My Hand Update

I realized I never did post my final update about my hand. I got my cast off forever and a day ago, it feels like and it is healing up very nicely. I never did go to Physical Therapy because it would have taken too much time out of my work. (My decision). I have pretty much complete mobility of my thumb except I don't know if it will be a hitch hikers thumb, who needs that any way. This is the only remant of this whole thing. A scar...

Here is an up close look of it.

I am always a little paranoid when meeting someone for the first time because of this scar. It looks like I have tried to kill myself and feel like I have to explain myself. I am sure this insecurity will pass. :) I can always tell when I have typed a lot because it gets really stiff...like today. I did 2 papers and so it is hurting, but other than that, no big deal.

Another one bites the Dust

I just finished another class and I am so happy to be done!!! This class was a marketing class and it made me realize how glad that I am to have that as my major. It is the first marketing class that I have had. Is that a sign that I will graduate soon?? Wishful thinking. Not until next October, but I surely am excited!!!
So, I never remarked how my holidays have been going and so I will do that now. For Thanksgiving I went down to Chandler to hang out with my brother and his family and my sister and her family. It was a lot of fun!!! We ate a delicious turkey dinner and then at around 7pm we had a hail storm to beat all hail storm. It looked like it was snowing. I took a picture with my phone, because yes I forgot my camera. Take a look!!

That is hail!! Crazy huh!!! Any way, the next day we did the whole black Friday shopping. Mostly to get out because we were all broke, but it was a lot of fun just to hang out with my sister-in-law.

Celine Dion!!!

So I have to tell you this incredible story. At work they had a raffle for Celine Dion tickets and I being a HUGE fan of Celine Dion put my name into the raffle and I won. The seats weren't the greatest but I thought hey its Celine who cares. So, Ashleigh and I go to the concert and as we were trying to find our seats a lady who worked at jobbing.com arena asked us to step aside and speak with this guy who also worked there. At first I thought we had done something wrong. But no, they asked us if we wanted to have better seats. Who would say no to that??? So, they swapped us our bad tickets for these crazy almost front row tickets. Check out the photos I took with my phone, which doesn't have zoom capabilities!!!!!! I was in pure Celine Dion heaven!!!! I could see the color of her eyes and we even sang a few words looking at each other!!! CRAZY HUH!!!! I can't believe it. Things like this don't happen to me!!!

Truth

Graphics & Myspace layouts

Always

MySpace Graphics & Free Myspace Layouts

Ashleigh

Go on Ashleigh blog and She also did my background don't you like it and please go on fashionangelzgirl.blogspot.com and Comment on that blog to

I know, I know!!!

So, it has been forever since I have posted a blog I know. I have been super busy and then on top of all of that my laptop's battery went bad so that didn't help at all. So, work is good. I love it!!! My kids are doing great. Ashleigh just got back from a 3 day camping trip with her school in the middle of the week. I missed her so much and found myself looking at her picture and tearing up. I know sappy, but I love my girl!!!!

I just finished another hard class in college. Financial Management. Maybe the reason why I am having such a hard time with my own finances is because I can't understand all of the things that go into these classes.

Finally, I CAN MOVE MY THUMB!!!!! I don't think I will ever have a hitchhikers thumb anymore, which is just fine with me. I can type and that is all that matters. :) I have a suicidal scar on my arm which makes me self conscious when meeting with new people at my work. I fell like I have to explain. I guess in due time I won't even notice it.

Well, I hope to blog more often but I can't make any promises. hahahahaha!

School, school and more school

The kids started school a couple weeks ago and are actually doing really well. High School seems to really suit Spencer and I see that he is actually being responsible with his classes finally. Ashleigh also loves the 5th grade. It seems that Ashleigh has a lot more homework than Spencer though which concerns me because either she isn't doing all that she should in class or Spencer isn't doing all that he should at home!!! hmmmmmmmm

Business Law!
So, I just started a new class last week and I absolutely love it...again. It is business law. I have never done anything like this before and so this stuff is all very new to me but it is so interesting! I can definitely see why people get so involved in laws! Again, it is one of the harder classes that I have taken but it really feels like I am actually accomplishing something by being in this class!! Maybe that is why I love these classes because I feel like I am being taught? Because that is how Statistics class was as well! All I know is that it is fun and hard at the same time.

Update!

So, I got my cast removed a week ago and still can't bend my thumb at all, humpf that is scary isn't it? I can bend my fingers pretty well and can do a lot of things with them however, my hand is still extremely weak and stiff but I am doing a lot better!

On a side note, I just found out Eric, my ex-husband, is getting remarried. Seems to soon to me. It has just been a year and a half...oh well, I guess some guys can't be alone. I just feel weird because I haven't even dated really!

Me that's what i am

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You Asked For It

Here is a picture of my cast. You will see NKOTB on it and that is because the guys at my work and I have a running joke that the other is in love with New Kids on the Block!!! My whole cubicle was decked out with NKOTB memorabilia when I got back to work after my vacation. It was actually really funny, but now I gotta get them back...any ideas???

My Family

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Love my kids!

mom's birthday

Thoughts of My Own!

My sister said I don't have thoughts of my own because I stole her pictures from her blog...so, here I go.

It has been over a month now with still no use of my right hand. I am getting pretty good at hand pecking with my left hand. I am sure it will be weird to have my hand back...will I ever get it back?

I am now in a hot pink cast (my coworkers are calling me Analyst Barbie). Next week they will switch me over to a removable brace. YEAH!!!!! I will also start physical therapy because my thumb isn't moving really well. Can I live without a thumb?? I don't think so.

More Vacation pictures stolen

Ashleigh and her cousin Natalie campin

Ashleigh with a caterpillar. For some reason there was a freakish amount of them. Sometimes feeling like they were falling from the skies.
This is Ashleigh being the best babysitter ever at Kangaroo Zoo with her cousins Shaun and Natalie.
This is a rare photo of Spencer doing what he does best! SMILE!!!!
This is of the boys and Natalie at our trip to Sweet Tomatoes in Utah. YUMMY!!!!!

arm pictures stolen

So here are some of those pictures promised. (I had to steal them from Karla, my sisters, blog because I can't ever remember to take pictures of my own.


I look like I am dying from a strange disease, but here is my arm the day after...
This is me in the canyon at Aspen Grove...yes I am pulling a face not dying from the aforementioned disease.

Arm Update

Hello All,
I know I promised pictures but my sisters have all of them. But I will give all of you an update! After waiting around in Utah for 10 days for the doctor to let me know if he was going to put a cast on me or if I would have to have surgery or not I had a doctors appointment on July 14th and it was at that time I was informed I would need surgery after all!! So that same day my kids and I started driving back to Arizona because if I had to have surgery I wanted it done in Arizona. We stopped half way thru the trip and spent the night in a hotel in Page, Arizona. We finally arrived home on Tuesday afternoon. Then on Wednesday morning I had an appointment with my hand doctor here in Arizona. He immediately scheduled my surgery for the following day to put in a plate; a screw; and remove the bulge from my thumb I had noticed earlier this year. So, I had the surgery and all went well! I just have to thank everyone that has helped me in my many moments of frustration during this ordeal. I realized that when it comes right down to it nothing beats family!!! My work has also been so supportive throughout as well. Since the beginning of July I have only been to work 3 days and it is already the 20th!!!! Thanks to everyone and I hope to post pictures soon!!!

4th of July

This has been a vacation I will never forget!! We drove all day on July 2 to come to Utah for the holiday. The next day I had the worst migraine headache that I have ever had. Then on the 4th of July we got up early to watch the parade which is always a fun treat. Then we all went to my parents for lunch. We have some distant cousins come all the way from Lithuania here and they brought us all tee-shirts. My brother-in-law and I were playing tug of war with one of them and he let go...I fell back spent the rest of my holiday in the emergency room. I broke my radius and compounded my wrist bones!!!! How embarrassing is that!!! So I have to stay in Utah for longer than planned to see if the doctors will have to put a plate in my wrist to hold everything together!

Now I am here on vacation with a broken wrist! I will post pictures soon. My family took lots of pictures to document my stupidity!!!

Ashleigh's Blog

Please look at my adorable daughters blog it is: http://fashionangelzgirly.blogspot.com. She feels bad because there aren't any comments on her blog recently. Please send your comments her way. Thanks!!!!!!!

The Talented Miss Ashleigh

So, I just have to give props to my beautiful daughter Ashleigh. She has revamped my blog and did such an awesome job. She is so talented! I really am amazed everyday at how much she knows. What a cutie! She promised that she would keep my blog up-to-date with all the newest looks. How sweet.

I love Statistics!!!

So, I just have to give myself some kudos since Spencer and Ashleigh could care less of my achievements. I am in my 2nd Statistics class (my first one I received 97% on my final grade, yeah me!) and this one I am not doing too shabby either. In fact my teacher had me post my homework assignment for all others to see because there were so many that didn't get it right.

It is strange to me because there are a lot of mathematical computations but I am really enjoying myself in these classes and I used to absolutely abhor math. What has gotten into me? Am I getting older or what?

All I know is that these classes haven't been a walk in the park for me but I am really appreciating them and feel that the money that I am spending on College is finally paying off. :)

Secondhand Serenade

If any of you guys know me at all you know how much I absolutely love music. Well, tonight I was watching Jimmy Kimmel and I absolutely fell in love with this band. They are called Secondhand Serenade. Listen...it is awesome!!!!!

Update

Hello All,

I know it has been a long time since I have commented. I wanted to update you all on the happenings of the Merrill family. Spencer and Ashleigh are done with their school year. Next year Spencer will start High School CRAZY! and Ashleigh will be in 5th grade. Does that mean that I am getting older? I guess I am! :(

I am starting my 3rd class of my Bachelors program. I just finished my first Statistics class. I had heard the rumors that Stats class was hard and boy was it ever! Weird thing is that I actually really enjoyed myself. I know it I am crazy! I am now starting my second Stats class tomorrow. I hope that it will be just as fun.

I am also finishing up my first year at Safeway and love every single minute of it. I have made many good friends and hope to continue this journey I am currently on.

I will be taking my first vacation since starting Safeway on July 2nd - July 9th. We will be heading up to Utah for the 4th of July festivities. We are all excited about that.

Well, I hope to keep better in touch...yeah right.

All About "Us" - Thanks Tiff and Char. :)

For those of you who have been watching the news and may have wondered....

Some Mormon women sing...

Some Mormon women dance...

Some Mormon women write scary stories...

Some Mormon women have lots of money and really great hair...

I know hundreds of Mormon women. They do all kinds of different things and live all different kinds of lives.

This woman served as a leader in the Mormon church. She recently spoke to teenage girls worldwide. She encouraged them to stand up to peer pressure, strengthen their families and serve others.

None of the Mormon women I know look like this...

None of them are marrying off their teenage daughters and-- although some may joke about wanting a sister-wife (preferably one who is really fat & ugly, does bathrooms and changes diapers)--none of them really want to share their husband with anyone.

Furthermore...

Some Mormon guys can throw a ball...

Some Mormon guys yell at the ball...

Some Mormon guys make scary movies...

Some Mormon guys have a lot of money and really great hair...

I know hundreds of Mormon guys. They do all kinds of different things and live all kinds of different lives.

This is one of the leaders of the Mormon church. Last Sunday he spoke about honoring women, especially mothers, and gave advice to husbands and children about how to treat the women in their lives.

None of the Mormon men I know look like this...

The Mormon men I know are honest and hard-working. They don't cheat, smoke, drink or gamble. And TRUST ME....the last thing any of them want is another wife..

80's Songs Relived

Below are two songs that I absolutely LOVE. Listen to both of them. They are AWESOME!

The Rain Oran Juice Jones

Thunder and Lightning by Miss Thang

Mathematics...my way.

ROMANCE MATHEMATICS
Smart man + smart woman = romance
Smart man + dumb woman = affair
Dumb man + smart woman = marriage
Dumb man + dumb woman = pregnancy

______________________________

OFFICE ARITHMETIC
Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime
_____________________________

SHOPPING MATH
A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs.
A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn't need.
________________________________

GENERAL EQUATIONS & STATISTICS
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
_____________________________

HAPPINESS
To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.
To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.

______________________________

LONGEVITY
Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die.

_____________________________

PROPENSITY TO CHANGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.

A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, and
she does.

_____________________________

DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE
A woman has the last word in any argument.

Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new
argument.

________________________________________

HOW TO STOP PEOPLE FROM BUGGING YOU ABOUT GETTING MARRIED

Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and
cackling, telling me, 'You're next.' They stopped after I started
doing the same thing to them at funerals.

______________________________________________

I am morphing into Katie Holmes...and no I WILL NOT marry Tom Cruise. hahahahha

MyHeritage: Celebrity Morph - Familytree - Free genealogy software

My Celebrity Look-a-Likes

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Ashleigh's Blog!

So I just have to note. My darling and highly skilled daughter has created her very own blog and I want you all to click here and take a look and cheer her on. We all love Ashleigh!!!!

Schooooooooolllllllsssssssss Ovvvvvvveeeerrrrr

Yeah!!! So, I finally have a degree. I know it only took me forever and a day but I just finished my last 2 classes this past Sunday. WOW how exhausting! So, i am going to continue on starting April but for right now I am DONE!!!!!!!! YIPEE!!!!

Get a load of this.

Looking at pictures on my camera and came across more from Ashleigh. She actually looks dead in this one...Very freaky!


How funny! I found a lot like this but thought this was the most fun!



I had to include a cute one to make up for the other ones! :)

Purple People Eater

Do you any of you remember the Purple People Eater from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Well, I have a real live one in my own home. As many of you know, Spencer LOVES purple and one day his friend, Carlos took pictures of him in all of his purple glory. Take a look!

Lee's Video's

I don't know if any one has ever seen these video's but our brother is an actor!

Round and Round Ashleigh Goes

I was going through my pictures and look what I found...How funny is this?

New Blog

So, what do you think of my new blog? It is more me than the other one that I had.

Freaking Cold!!!!!

Joke of the Day!

A woman was sitting at a bar enjoying an after work cocktail
with her girlfriends when an exceptionally tall, handsome, extremely sexy,
middle-aged man entered. He was so striking that the woman could not take
her eyes off him.

The young-at-heart man noticed her overly attentive stare
and walked directly toward her. (As all men will.)

Before she could offer her apologies for staring so rudely,
he leaned over and whispered to her, "I'll do anything, absolutely
anything, that you want me to do, no matter how kinky, for $20.00on
one condition."

Flabbergasted, the woman asked what the condition was.
The man replied, "You have to tell me what you want me to do in just three
words."

The woman considered his proposition for a moment and then
slowly removed a $20 bill from her purse, which she pressed into the man's
hand along with her address. She looked deeply into his eyes, and slowly
and meaningfully said:

"Clean my house."

Happy New Years

Hello I hope everyone else had as much fun as we did in Arizona. Take a look at the picture that I took.