I have been wasting time all evening, and part of yesterday. I want to work in my studio...but I am not. I am watching lame tv shows, checking my investments, putting medication on the dog and snacking. This seems to happen when the pictures I am working on are too good -- especially when I don't have the negatives. Arg. So many awesome new supplies and I sit her procastinating.

One more week until the new job...really yummy Indian food for lunch tomorrow...tile work starting on the house and my studio is ready for sheetrock.

**Update**
Maybe it is just a fact that I can only create after dark...

In my hot little hands

My first hard copy pub is here! So lucky for it to be in such an awesome magazine. The page is HUGE.

It is a beautiful day for a reorg.

So we had an 8:30 am division wide meeting today that resulted in a reorg. This makes me a bit crazy being that I am inbetween functions right now and only signed papers last week. But my new manager is a director reproting into the VP, that has to be a good thing. Before the reorg, I would have reported into a manager that reported into a director. Of course there is some risk of consolidation but the other teams we are merging with probably don't have anyone in my role. The new effect will probably be increased headcount -- which will be welcomed. Nothing good ever came with out a bit of risk, right? Oh and did I mention my new manager is out? So she can't speak to any of this.

On a side not, my old groups was moved too. They merged with Localization. So I wouldn't have escaped some uncertainty either way. This way just comes with a potential upside.

Not dead, yet

So much has been going on and I wasn't sure what I wanted to share.

I got a new job -- still at the same place but I now manage a small Software Tool and Technical documentation team. It is a great opportunity. I have some reservations but changes were happening in my current job so I went for it. The hiring manager for my new job was super supportive of me despite the fact that my management skills have in no way been proven. Basically, it was an opportunity I didn't expect to see for years -- so I took it. I really have to prove myself so she doesn't end up looking bad because she hired me. My experience is jobs oftern look and sound harder than they are -- and my direct reports are young and motivated -- so why not give it a try. If nothing else it will look great on my resume. College to Management in less than 5 years. Also, I know I won't be that manager that makes her employees miserable so I feel like I can make this place a bit happier. So I have a 1.5 month transition. I will be starting the new job full time on July 1st but for now I am already getting up to speed because the previous manager has moved on.

Other things...I should be in the June Scrapbook Trends (which I now see is sold at Michaels -- so I can go get myself a copy soon, hopefully!!!) and I will have 2 pages in the Aug/Sept Legacy/Somerset (which is funny because I like the work they publish but my pages don't really seem like their style!). Also, I am signed up for a Right Now class by the one and only Kristina Contes on 7/7. So excited for that. I wanted to do a project like that and of course I want to take a class with her so that is perfection. The store she is teaching at is new to me (it is seriously over 2 hours from my house) but it looks great. So that'll be fun to hit up with my my SIL and partner in crime :)

Our house is coming along. I swear, it is like we are getting there. The only major project upstairs is the tileing in the bathroom. The original hardwood was redone this week and I am so pleased! I need to get the pictures posted.

Ring my Bell

(She is no longer this small!)

Izzy is spending her days at various places but she is never alone. Two Saturday's ago we decided she needs a bell on the door that she can ring to let us know she has to go out. I hung the bell and then used her nose or paw to ring it and we went out. Within the hour she rang the bell and we took her out adn praised her. Flash ahead to this Tuesday (remember we had rung this with her on nearly every trip out) -- B and I are making dinner and she rings the bell. We are so excited -- we take her out and praise her. This was the start of something because she has been ringing the bell to get out ever since. In fact I have intentionally ignored her whining 2 times and seen her walk into the kitchen and ring the bell. Tomorrow we will have had her 3 weeks and I would say the training is going well. She knows *sit* and it pretty good with *bed*. I got her a dog bed on Saturday. The purpose was to give her a way to come into the living room (our only carpeted room). She hates when we are in there and she can't be. I got some small treats and kept saying bed and when she got on it she got a treat. Then if she left her bed -- I left a treat on her bed. This seemed to work but the living room was short lived after a Sunday full of reversions. We had just started her gradual food switch and gave her a shot the day before and she ended up with diarrhea mid day Sunday. Then she left a big poop in the house we are remodeling later Sunday night. I was so glad to see she was OK that I didn't even care about the mess. But then when we got home she left a puddlein the kitchen and I caught her starting to leave a puddle in the living room so she was banished from the carpet. If the bell ringing holds out she'll be back on the carpet soon but by invitation only soon :) It has been nice letting her roam the house w/o worry since she got the bell thing down but only cause the carpet is still blocked. Wish us luck, I need to enroll her in puppy classes.

Isabella

The minute we got Izzy named it felt like she was part of the "family." She is so cute and entertaining. It is also nice that nothing has been destroyed in the almost 4 days we have had her. Yesterday she stayed with my parents and today B took her to work with him. I want her to be a little better about accidents before I bring her into my office. Our company is well-known for allowing dogs and I know she'll love it here BUT it is a long walk to the grass :)

I think she would have slept through the night if I hadn't woken up and 5am and check in on her.

We have a new friend

She is an 8 week old Siberian Husky mix. She and one other girl in her litter were all white/cream the others had more traditional markings. We fell in love with her mild mannered ways and her cute looks. She doesn't bite or bark and she is good with both kids and dogs.

These dogs were at the Marin Humane Society. My friend took one of the more traditional ones. She is much bigger than ours.

Both these girls need names. It's great that they will have each other as playmates. All my dog names were for boys :)

She loves her crate and she fell asleep in the truck on the way home after some whining. She was a champ at PetCo and she should be because she got attention from everyone in the store. She is getting used to a leash too.

She pee'd one time in the house before we got her figured out (she is "living" in the kitchen for easy clean up) and she also had the other type of accident in the house later tonight.

B is in love -- I was the one who went looking for her today but it is clear that he needed a puppy :)