Time flies....

It's been a little while since I've written. I have been busy for sure. The job hunt continues and has taken me to Seattle, NYC, Orlando, Miami and points in between, but has not netted the perfect job just yet. I'm very blessed that I have the time and resources to take my time to find the job that I want and not have to jump at just any job that strolls by. So the search continues. We'll see where it leads this week.....

I've spent lots of time in my yard landscaping and getting my backyard to the lush oasis that I want it to be.....even if it might end up being for the next homeowner if a move is in our future. Our home builder did a good job of foundation planting, but I need plants--I mean rainforest thick monster plants! I've planted five Leyland Cypress to help hide the neighbor behind us. Lots of large shrubbery, flowering and not, to help fill in some of the open areas in our 'natural area'. Some Calla Lilies, Jasmine and a bunch of other flowering bushes and plants to bring those little pops of color here and there. And, of course, a massive amount of day-lilies. They are my favorite back and front yard plants. Taking a walk around the yard this morning--my favorite time to inspect the 'estate' (lol)--everything has taken root perfectly and is growing. In about 3-5 years, it'll look amazing!

As a hockey fan, I'm enjoying some great playoff games that are being played out. My team is not in it so I'm not really pulling for any team, but I love a good, hard fought game and there have been several so far! Hubby and I finally got around to catching up on some tv we missed while he was workin' hard during tax season. We caught up on all 8 episodes of "Parenthood" over the weekend. Oh my, I love that show. Why was I not shocked that uber-producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer were part of it. I'm so wary to get hooked on a new show because they get cancelled so fast these days. I hope this one survives. What a great cast. I especially like Peter Krause, whose acting I fell in love with during Six Feet Under.

I had to say goodbye to my dear Leo last week. He would've turned 19 next month and my 'grandpa' kitty just wore out. His pace had slowed quite considerably, he had to stop every 10 feet or so to rest and was getting lower and lower in his back legs. Then when the vet said his kidney numbers has jumped into the danger zone, we knew the time had come. This was the first time I had been present during one of our pets' euthanizations and I was surprised at how peaceful the whole process was. I blubbered my way through saying goodbye to him after the vet gave him a sedative and then she gave him the final shot. Just as he did during life, he passed while laying on my lap. I would have had it no other way. He didn't suffer, he died with dignity and on his favorite lap. Leo was a great kitty and he and I shared many adventures together. I couldn't have asked for a better boy......

Casper, our last kitty left out of four, has adjusted easily to his playmate being gone. The vet said dogs have a harder time adjusting to a member of their pack being gone than cats. I wonder how long Casper grieved? The first day I fed him as a solo kitty, he stood at the side of the food dish, like always, as Leo was the alpha-cat and always ate first. That was a sad sight, as Casper sat there and waited for Leo to round the corner and eat the lions share first......but he never came. Here we are six days later and Casper no longer waits. It is weird only having one cat in the house though.

Casper and Leo

Hockey and Being Put On Ice.....

I've been watching the Winter Olympics with much love over this past week. The downhill, luge, bobsled, skeleton and snowboarding.....those are my favorites to watch. The ice dancing is ok. I'm in awe at their talent, it's just that ice skating is not my thing. I do love their outfits though. They are gorgeous. But watching the USA Men's Hockey Team play Canada last night was the BEST! Watching the best of the best players in hockey from the US and Canada on one ice playing their hardest? WOW! Now THAT was some awesome hockey. It was soooo fast and considering that these guys don't play on the same team year round, they played with such fluidity like they had been playing together for years. And our goalie!!!! I must say that I DO NOT like the Buffalo Sabres at all....I mean there is much dis-like for that team, but I am liking me some Ryan Miller right now. He is an amazing goalie and just worked his a** off last night. Miller-time indeed! Add to alllll this that Team USA beat Canada at their game? NICE! I can't wait to watch some more. Go, boys, go!!!

Speaking of ice...specifically being iced, I was laid off from my job last week. I have written before on here about my suspicions that this would happen and it did. I work full-time in radio and over the past two years, thousands of us have been laid off as the industry has suffered massively through the economic downturn. My company held off as long as they could and when they made their first layoff right after the new year, I knew 2010 in my building was not going to be kind. Soooooo....what to do? I've been on the air in radio for over 25 years and the business has changed so much from what it was that drew me to it back in the early days. I've learned to 'never say never' when it comes to this business, but I don't think I'm going to actively pursue another job in radio. If something amazing finds me--I'll certainly consider it, but I believe that this is my crossroads. My baking and my dreams of world domination as far as my baked goods go, is definitely the most attractive option. It is what I have dreamed about and prayed for and there certainly is no better time to go for it......

My company is paying out my contract for another few weeks, so I'm taking my slow, sweet time over the next few days to enjoy a little time off, get a clear head and take that next big step in the right direction. But my heart says....that Heavenly Scents Bakery is about to go global.

Ice in my veins....

I love hockey. We have been Carolina Hurricane season ticket holders for many years now, including the Stanley Cup season, which was just an awesome season to say the least. I love the speed of the game, I love the aggressiveness of it and yes, I LOVE the fights. My favorite player on the team is usually the guy who's not afraid to drop his gloves and go at it! They're usually not the highest scorers or the best puck handlers but they are equally important to the success of your team. They are the enforcers and keep the opposing players accountable. My husband, who is a hockey purist, gets on me about liking the fights because 'someone sitting in the penalty box doesn't help the team, you get can scored on when you're a man short'......pfffft.....whatever!!

My first favorite fighter for the 'Canes was Jesse Boulerice. Man was he nasty. He did score a few for us, but he was known for his fists. Jesse would fight at the drop of a hat. You could just skate by Jesse and he'd come after you. Needless to say he spent a lot of time in the penalty box. In the '02-'03 season with the 'Canes, he spent 127 minutes in the penalty box, which for Jesse is actually not alot! I loved him. He was such a brute. We traded Jesse back in 2007. I was bummed to see him go, but we got Doug Weight in exchange and that was a very good thing.

So this summer, the Canes acquired this new guy by the name of Andrew Alberts. He's #41 and he is BIG! He's 6'5", 220lbs and....yep...a tough guy. He can play, too! He's fast, he handles the puck really well and can get it into the net. He's the whole package. He's not a crazy guy, where he's just lookin' for a fight just to be fighting, but he is not afraid of hitting and pounding, for sure. We played Philadelphia the other night and he boarded a Flyer so hard I thought the guy was gonna shatter into a dozen pieces. It took the guy a few seconds to regain his senses so you know he felt that the next morning. Ohhhhhhh, Alberts is just awesome to watch.

Congrats to my 'Canes for getting their first win last night too against Tampa Bay--Woooohooo! It was a shootout win, which I love watching, but don't get my husband started on those either...

Tim Conboy demonstrating last night how NOT to fight successfully...