Nash

I get to go pick up Nash next weekend (yes, I am a Nash Bridges fan). My mom has already been calling him by his name and says he has quite the attitude. He is still very small as you can see him in comparison to the medicine bottle, but I have no doubt he will be a good addition to our crew and will be the boss of the house in no time.

Winning the Lottery

I often think about what I would do if I won the lottery. I would keep working, at least for a while; I would pay off all of our bills, including the house: I would either fix up my parents home or buy them a new one; I would make all of the upgrades to our home that we have been wanting; hubby and I would take a trip to Ireland; and finally we would open some kind of small business in an area that we want to eventually retire. Not sure where that area is right now or what that business would be, but that is what I would do if I won the lottery.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Kia Soul

I used to never see the new Kia Soul, but over the past week I have begun seeing one every morning on my way to work. I don't particularly like the vehicle, but it makes me think of my friend Katreader. When I see the vehicle, I think of that commercial where the mice are jamming out in their Kia Soul. The mice are acting cool and having a good time. That then makes me think of Katreader who raises really cool mice who are well cared for and spoiled.

Okay, so my mind wanders a little when I am stuck in traffic, but at least I am not talking on my cell phone or sending text messages.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I am so excited, Trans-Siberian Orchestra is coming to Austin in December. Tickets go on sale in September and I already have my calendar marked. I made sure I didn't have any meetings or conference calls planned for the morning they go on sale so I can go get our tickets.

They put on one of the best concerts and light shows you will ever see. There is nothing better for putting you in the holiday spirit.

Knee Pain

I went to the doctor about 2 months ago and they told me the knee pain I was having was arthritis. Although not thrilled, I accepted the info and agreed to try to meds in hopes that it would help the swelling and pain. After 30-days on the meds and no results (it was actually getting worse), I went back. This time they did an MRI and determined I have torn cartilage. Okay, that make more sense, but it still hurts like hell. Since I am not keen on surgery, I have agreed to do a Synvisc shot on Wednesday. I really hope that it helps with the swelling and the pain so I can get back to normal activity with my knee. Even walking is painful and since I am walking with a limp, it is making my back hurt a little.

I don't feel extremely comfortable with this doctor, but I am willing to give him a try. Think good thoughts for me on Wednesday.

TGIF

This week has seemed really long and I am glad it is at an end. Tonight hubby and I will volunteer at Movies in the Park (they are showing Igor) and then hopefully we will have a couple of relatively quiet days.

Interview Tips

Interviewing is one of those things that very few people actually like to do and I am no exception. I find that you can get a better feel for a person from their body language rather than the actual answers to their questions. When I interview someone, I prefer to do it as a panel and I only ask a couple of questions then sit back and watch the candidate as someone else asks questions.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been interviewing candidates to fill a slot on my team and I have gathered a list of tips for those who may be going on an interview soon.

Show up on time. Don't show up late and don't show up too early; 30 minutes it too early unless they have asked you to arrive that early to complete additional paperwork. Try showing up about 10-15 minutes early, they are typically ready for you at that time.

Dress appropriately. If you are not sure what the attire is for that company, dress as though you were going out on a nice dinner date. Don't wear clothes with holes, t-shirts with inappropriate wording, and definitely no flip flops.

Make eye contact. No matter how uncomfortable, look at the person who is asking the questions. Playing with items on the interviewers desk, look at the ceiling, or looking at the floor is not appropriate.

Send a thank you note. Believe it or not, this really does make a difference. In today's society, a thank you email is acceptable, but you should definitely send something.

Hopefully these tips will help someone who is out there interviewing. I know a few candidates that I spoke with sure could have used these tips!

Hita, Japan

One of my team members will be leaving in September and moving to Hita, Japan. Her husband got a job teaching English in Hita for a year through an exchange program at the University of Texas at Austin. She is going to go and spend the year learning about and enjoying the culture. She will be one of only 5 people in the village that speaks English. I am very sad to be losing her from my team, but utterly thrilled at the opportunity she and her husband have. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving couple.

Now, I have to come up with some kind of going away get together and a going away gift. I am terrible at these kind of things and need some help with ideas. I know you all are very creative, so please send me some suggestions; September 10th will be here in no time.

Bargains

Today we needed to go to Lowe's and pick up some salt for our water softener. While we were out, we decided to go by the Goodwill to see if they had anything interesting. As it turned out, today was a day of bargains. At Goodwill, they had a swing arm lamp for $12 that will look great beside the bed and will be perfect for reading. We also found a set some Pfaltzgraff soup bowls for $1.99 and a tea ball for $.99. The we went to Lowe's and I found a hibiscus plant on clearance for $3 (normally $19) and then they had our salt on sale for $3.97 a bag (normally $5.97). I also had a coupon for $1 off each bag of the salt and a coupon for 10% off the total purchase. All in all it was a good day for bargains.

New Addition to the Family

We have decided to take the plunge and add a new member to our family. He is a Yorkie born on 7/22 out of a forbidden love affair. His mother is a CKC registered Yorkie named Cassie and his father is an AKC registered Yorkie named Rooney. The two were not supposed to "hook up" since they are from different registration groups, but they found a way to make it happen when no one was watching. As a result, Cassie had a litter of 5 but only 2 survived; a male and a female. When they were taken to the vet for their initial check up, the vet said he had never seen a puppy as small as the little male (the one on the right). We have decided that he will fit perfectly in to our family and can't wait to bring him home. He should be ready to come home around Labor Day weekend. Now we just have to come up with a name.