*swoon*

It's a pretty well known fact that I'm an American Idol junkie (I go beyond fan sometimes). It's also a very well known fact that I absolutely love David Cook and Daughtry...
David Cook came to the AZ State Fair this week!!!!! His opening act was The Script, from Ireland. They were pretty good. The first two pictures are of The Script's lead singer...



And now.... the man!






I would see him again and again and again if I could.... I had such a great time! :)

catching up - again

so it was brought to my attention that I've not been a very good blogger lately.... I think some of it is due to the fact that my camera has decided to hate me. I usually post pictures, so not having any pictures to post has kept me from posting.... and considering the fact that life is in overdrive right now, well... it's all I can do to keep up on everyone else's blogs (and of course find time to read Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn ;-) )

KOTA

After his appointment at Companion Pet Clinic, I was more convinced than ever that he needed surgery. His ear filled up 2 days after it was drained... filled up, AND some. Surgery is scheduled for Monday 5/4/09. Please keep all fingers, toes and paws crossed for a flawless easy surgery that leaves Kota's ear as much like normal as it can be. And that it doesn't reoccur for goodness sakes. Poor kid had 12 cc's of blood drained from it on Saturday, and it's even more full now than it was then. :( I feel like such a bad dog mom.
I took this picture of him tonight... I'm amazed that it's clear!! Yahooooo! :)

SEDONA & CHANCE

The kids are entered in the shows in Albuquerque on the 9th and 10th of May. There is a 3 point major in dogs and 4 point major in bitches, so I couldn't NOT go, given that Chance only needs his majors. His sister, Suzie, finished her Championship recently, so Chance REALLY needs to follow suit.

WORK

Work has been drowning me in paperwork and meetings and evaluations and changes, but I still LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do - despite the insane pace it's taking right now. I'm not sure if I mentioned in my last post, but I'll be changing schools next year... it's kind of a bittersweet thing. I'll be getting an INCREDIBLE room at the Elementary school I'll be working at, and I'll also be sharing the Intermediate school case load with my work mentor, Laurie, so I'm really excited about that. The interesting thing, is that the Intermediate school is where I went to 7th - 12th grades.... kinda funny. So I'm really excited about next year, but I'm ready for this one to be over.

CAMERA

I think I'll be starting to look for a new camera. Since my ole reliable Olympus SP-700 has crapped out on me and is taking more UNfocused pictures than focused ones, I need to either get this one repaired (goodness knows how much THAT might cost), or start shopping for another. I wish I could afford the D-SLR that I want, but I might as well keep dreaming... maybe when I win the lottery! Darned technology. LOL

AMERICAN IDOL

I'm a Danny fan through and through.... I picked him out from the auditions, and am proud to say that he's still there, and i expect that he will be in the finals.... I can't wait for his album! :)

TWILIGHT

I avoided the bandwagon for as long as I could. I finally gave in a few weeks ago and bought Twilight (the book) at Costco. I read it in no time flat, bought New Moon, and had that read in a little more than a day. I am NOT a reading fanatic, but these books really did catch me! It took me a few days to get through Eclipse, and I started on Breaking Dawn last week - but since work has been so crazy, and I got myself a touch of something icky in my throat, it's taking me longer than the previous books have. I've really enjoyed them. I finally watched the movie this week and tho I was comparing it to the book the whole time, it was, on the whole, a pretty good movie :) I can't wait for New Moon (the movie) to come out now :)

Well, my bed (and Breaking Dawn) is calling - I will take my fuzzies and hit the pillows....

updates on this and that...

Kota's ear is doing well... *I* still feel fluid in it, but it's not getting any worse and it's not bothering him, so I'm leaving well enough alone. his ear is standing, tho a bit weird looking at the top (to my discriminating eye). I'm going to let it do what it's going to do... no sense in putting him through the stress of the vets office and needles if he doesn't need to. Poor kid. On a good note though, he's REALLY come into his own in agility, and now that our BC friend has moved up, he's one of the best dogs in the class - without a doubt. He LOVES it. I wish I could get him on video for everyone to see... He's not super speedy (like Zoey!), but he's clean and accurate, and he wears a grin from big ole ear to big ole ear while doing it.... that's what's important to me :) I actually had to *run* to keep up with him last week, which was something new! :)

The house is still a weird pain in the butt subject... According to what I can find online, it looks like the owners "sold" the house to a company called Cal-Western Reconveyance Corp, and THEY are managing the "Trustee Sale". My property manager tells me that until I'm notified otherwise, that I am obligated to stay in the house as per the terms of my lease. *sigh* So I sit. I wait. I hope that whoever buys the house doesn't kick me out (but they likely will). Fun times are ahead.

No word on Grad School - they're probably just filing through the gazillion applications they received to find the 25 they want to accept for this cohort... Keep your fingers and toes and paws crossed that it's my time.... this is attempt number 2 to get into Grad School, and if I don't get in this time, I'll have to take the stupid GRE again (which will just stink!). I'm due for something to go my way, and for something good in general dang it. :) Think positive thinks please :)

Work is getting back to normal again - it was a little weird coming back after being out for 3 weeks... I came in to see the notes that I had taken on my Dad's medical condition when I got "the phone call"... they were sitting right on top of my desk. I had to turn them over and just look past it - but I did have to clean my desk later that day.... Today was honestly the first day that it felt GOOD to be back at work. The kids all missed me so, and the feeling was VERY mutual :) I love those little rug rats! :)

I was going to save up for Chance's OFA x-rays, but now with the stinky house situation, it looks like I'll have to put that on the back burner again... He's sitting pretty at 10 points now, and I'm being VERY selective about where I'm entering him. If there's not a guaranteed major it REALLY is not worth my time to enter. He's really grown into himself in the last few months, and his latest win photo is evidence of that, I think. Finally. Whew. He's a handsome big goober of a dog... speaking of which, Carolyn has a FABULOUS picture that I HAVE to post to the blog as soon as she sends it (hint hint Carolyn!!) :)

And now that it's certain that Jeri is going to "test drive" Pilot, I feel comfortable saying that I will "test drive" Sterling... based on how Pilot produces with the beautimuss Lizzie, I might want use him for a 2nd litter out of Sedona, if Pilots moms agree. There are many things about both boys that I really like, so this will give me the opportunity to see what Pilot produces with Lizzie, and what Sterling produces with Sedona. Plus, I like me the blues. ;-)

I need to get Sedona's CERF test done, and aside from that, I think I'm good to go...Sterling's Penn-hip x-rays looked really good per Kim S., so I feel comfortable if she does...
I'll start consulting with folks to see what I need on hand, and who I can import to sit by my side and tell me all is ok.... ;-) After watching Kate, I'm a little scared, but seeing those little baby puppies makes me think it's all worth it in the end when the stress of the whelping is over...

In American Idol news, I LOVE Danny Gokey - HATE Megan Joy whatever-her-name-is. She's got to go. Adam did well tonight... really well. Danny is my favorite... almost as much as David Cook was my favorite last year. Yes. I did my part. I voted :)

Well, I think I will go to bed early tonight.... I had dinner with some friends from High School last night that ran a lot later than I was expecting - but I had a great time, so it was well worth staying up late (and having a hard time waking up). I can't believe the week is almost over!

HELL YEA BABY!!!!!!

Don't read this blog if you haven't already seen the results show of American Idol!!!!!

I'M SO FREAKIN HAPPY THAT DAVID COOK WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to get his album!!!! I see a great future for him and his career..... oh, and hey, he's hot ;-)

anxiously waiting....

to find out if David Cook is MY next American Idol ;-)

According to DialIdol.com stats right now (1047pm), David Cook has a significant lead. I'm thinking the lines won't be open a bunch longer.... so MAYBE America DID pull their heads out of their hind ends and vote for the guy who should win....

I guess the only way to know for sure is to watch tomorrow!

And yes, I've placed many many COUNTLESS calls to 1-866-IDOLS01 tonight ;-)

Go David Cook!!! You're MY American Idol ;-) (and your HOT HOT HOT)

FINALLY

there is American Idol JUSTICE!!!!!

Toodaloo Miss Haley-Long-Legs....

YA HOOOOO!! Still have Sanjaya, or as the morning radio show i listen to calls him, Mangina (man - jai - nuh)... HAHAHA

One down, one to go till we have something resembling what American idol should be.

I'm bad bad bad

I couldn't wait... I had to know...

I stumbled upon a forum for American idol.... I saw the results.... I think I'm almost getting to the point of not wanting to watch anymore... it's being made into a joke... and it's frustrating. I love the seeking out of good new talent, but when crap like this is allowed to occur week after week, I just can't take it. I wish there were some way for people like me to complain about it.

freaking Sanjaya lives on

Somehow, in the pit of my stomach, I knew.... I knew I'd have to endure his torture yet another week...
Damn you www.votefortheworst.com DAMN YOU

what the HELL!?!?!?!

Freaking Haley and Sanjaya made it to the freaking top 12!?!?!?!?!

WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THIS SHIT!?!?!

There must be an organized group of idiots who are voting for Sanjaya to eff up the show. There MUST be.

Sundance and Sabrina were FAR better than these two that got through. Oye vey.

I'm annoyed... very freaking annoyed. People are SCREWING up my show! LOL

now you get to be tortured! ;-)

It's said that everyone has things that are hidden little talents or hobbies or whatever? Like when most people find out that some of you are showing dogs, they're like "you what?!". You know what I'm talking about!

So this is where I come out....

Hello, I'm Traci, and I'm an American Idol addict.

Yes, it's true. I love this show.. I love to hate it. And I'm going to start obsessing about it, as it's starting to get good :) There's a girl from Arizona on there... her name is Jordin... and damn can that girl sing! Don't think she'll win, but she's really really good.

They had cuts tonight, and this one guy, who should have very clearly left was saved... somehow. And a really annoying girl should have gone but didn't.... Last year I got so angry when they voted Chris Daughtry off, I almost swore off the show!

So prepare for my other obsession ;-)

Oh yea... dog show impending doom feeling has hit...
Oh damn, what time do i need to wake up?
Where am i grooming said dog?
Will I know a single soul?
I have to get up HOW early???

You know it all too well, most of you! ;-)