Scrap-A-Latte ~ two of my favorite things...

Are we in a depression, or am I just depressed?

Most states want to be #1, but the one thing you don't want to be #1 in unemployment rates.  We are at 10.8% unemployment and rising here in Michigan. 

My employer has a balanced mix of automotive and decorative plumbing, which are both bottoming out in the market place.  We have had lay offs for over a year, but this past week hit us hard.  Customer's are pushing out their orders, their plants are closing and they aren't paying.  It has thrown our company in a panic.  We have slashed labor both hourly and salary people, cut pay, benefits and travel allowances.  That was a lot to be hit with in one day.  We have very few left to process, inspect and pack the parts, how it all will get done is still a mystery to me.

We can hope for a turn around in 2009, but history says that is not likely.  We will have to tighten the belts a little more and take it on the chin, waiting out this newest economic storm.  And if I hear one more person say we have to "Cowboy Up" I am going to hog tie 'em!

A Scrappy Little Weekend

It was so bitter cold and snowy this weekend, I never left the house.  I did venture in to my scrap room and completed 8 layouts!  I was pumped!

This first one was done using the new Rusty Pickle Brass Knuckles paper, It is a heavy black cardstock with foil designs.  The beauty and shine of this paper does not scan very well. 

 

Another vintage look from my trip to the Netherlands.  The near perfect town of .  We had a wonderful afternoon walking the streets, shopping and sipping espresso at the bistro.

 

Bo Bunny Xtreme Teen paper was perfect for these older pictures of my crazy family and our tattoo vacation.

 

This is the first picture I've scrapped of my friend, since she has passed.  It was full of a lot of tears but therapeutic in the healing process.

   

A Christmas picture of my granddaughter, I thought it was appropriate to use the Fancy Pants Ribbon, since it matched her nightgown so well :)

 

The others are not appropriate to post on my blog, LOL!  But you can view them at

http://www.scrap-a-latte.net/gallery/index.php

I think I woke up in Antarctica!

We are in day three of below zero actual temperatures and double digit negative numbers with the wind chill effect.  We have not had a lot of snow since the big freeze, but the blowing snow as made very slow travel on the icy roads.  I see no less than 5 cars in the ditch each day on my drive to and from work.  (you would think people would slow down)  Tomorrow is suppose to get back in the double digits on the positive side, around 12 degrees, I think I will dig out my Capri's for the heat wave :)

Finally some good news!

I got a call today from our Vet, he was able to speak with the fine Doctors at Michigan State University Veterinarian School.  Buster has an appointment on February 11th for an evaluation for hip replacement!  I am so happy that we found someone that will consider doing something to help him.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will pass the testing and be scheduled for surgery.  I guess I better find him a Sparty shirt and hat before then :)

How Many Pages do I have to have Published to?????

To pay for a hip replacement for my dog?  The answer is A LOT!  Buster is 12, but at times he still romps around like a puppy.  Lately his back legs aren't working so well.  He has trouble climbing the stairs, no longer jumps on the furniture or in bed with me.  I notice this legs trembling when he is lying still, so it was time to take a trip to the Vet.  His hips have degenerated so badly, the sockets are gone, his muscles are holding his legs in place and they are starting to fail.  We started pain meds and a supplement to help with the inflammation and to improve his muscle tone, but in a very short period of time, he will lose the use of his legs.  I want my dog fixed, he still has a lot of life and love in him.  The only thing that can be done is a hip replacement, so my goal over the next couple of months is to get this accomplished, one way or the other.  I called the only facility in GR that does this type of surgery and they said he was too small, they have to be 50 pounds he is 47!  They said he might be a candidate for FSO surgery, I have not read much good on the results of this type of repair.  So I called the vet back and asked about the possibility of getting him in at Michigan State University Vet School as a patient for the students.  He is going to pursue this option...Geez what we won't do for our furbabies :)

I did get to scrap a little while I was waiting on the Vet to call me, but my heart wasn't in it.

I love all the white and the glittery snowflakes on my Snow Bunny layout of my granddaughter

 

This one is more about the journaling than the layout.  The grandkids love to go to the grocery.  They each get their own cart and ring their own purchases, I couldn't resist getting pictures at the store, so I can always remember what fun we had grocery shopping together.

 

This last one I was so frustrated with, I didn't even put a title on it.  It is too collagy and busy for my taste, but sometimes you just have to walk away :)

 

Carrying on with my pictures from the Netherlands, I did this one of one of the many working windmills in Old Holland.

Christmas Vacation - OVER!

It's so sad when Christmas time is over and we have to go back to work.  I had to get all my scrapping in as who knows when I will have time to sit and enjoy it again. 

We just received the new Making Memories Love Notes collection in the store, I haven't gotten to play with it, but I did dabble in the We R Memory Keepers Valentines products.  The new glitter ribbon is so cute and self-adhesive too!

 

Reflections of 2008, it wasn't all bad, but it was by far the worst year I have lived.  My daughter asked if I have anything positive to say about 2008. I will have to think about that.

 

I pulled out a back to school picture of my grandson this weekend, it was fun to do another school layout.

 

In September of this year, the grandkids called us up and invited us over for their magic show.  It lasted about 40 minutes.  The tricks were funny and Tate kept calling his sister, "My lovely assistant"  BTW, I love the Jenni Bowlin Bingo Cards!

2009...I resolve to......

I posted a blogging challenge at Scrap-A-Latte to post your New Years Resolutions on your blog, so I guess I better do that too.

This year I will try to be organized once again.  Last year, my life just got out of hand and I was as disorganized as I could possibly be.  Time to get my life back in order (and my work area :)

This is the year to budget better.  We plan on taking the entire family to Disney World this year for a great family vacation.  I have done better that past few months, but there is room for improvement.

I want to take more pictures this year, document the daily lives of my family better. (They love this one)  I was generally an "event" photographer, but I need the average day stuff too.

I would put down, lose weight, exercise more, blah, blah blah, but I hate to be defeated year after year, so we just won't go there.

If I just do these 3 little things in my life this year, I know the world will be a better place.