Ive been inspired.

I just read Mckmama's post (ya'll know her, right? She's like, famous!) about her friend, automated voice lady, and it made me think of bout a year a time when a NOT so automated voice caused me just as many problems.

In Feb 2008, we moved cross country, from Denver CO to Asheville NC. We arrived at our rental house around 9pm with 10 dogs and 6 cats. We hurredly unpacked and basically went right to bed. One of our dogs was due to deliver pups and the move caused her to go into labor. I got up at 4am and started assisting. In the midst of this, I was reminded tha we had no cable and no phone internet. I started with phone service.

I called up the ol phone company and got friendly, non-automatedMckmama's post people. I input my information successfully through the first people. I was exhaused though, and quickly having a hard time focusing on both delivering pups and setting up phone service. The final lady I had to deal with apparently inputted the most important information of all. Here is how this part went. Her: Ok, ma'am, its time for me to verify your contact information. I have you down @ 1233 Locust Road, Marshall NC. Me: Yep, thats correct. Her: Ok ma'am, I have your zip code as 27283. Me: uhhh Yep, i think thats correct. Her: Ok, ma;am, I have your first name as Kerri. Me: yep, thats correct. Her: Ok, and your last name is Shome. Me: No, its Horne *chuckle*. Her: Home? Me: Horne. Her: Harm? Me: no, H-O-R-N-E, HORNE, like a CAR Horn, except with an E. Her: OH, ok ma'am, i got it all corrected for you. Me: Oh good, thank you so much *sleepy chuckle*. Her: ok, i will forward you into our automated contract system now, just agree verbally to the terms.


First bill comes about 2 weeks later, KERRI CARHORNE. Yep, Kerri freakin Carhorne. Oh, and guess what? When I call to correct the name? I must actually drive DOWN to the office and show PROOF of my REAL name!? Are you kidding? I can sign up on the phone!!! So, anyway, they never did fix it. We are now the Carhorne's. LOL.

The time has come...

for another entry. Lame, I know, but Im constantly struggling for opening statements.

So, just so you know, my keyboard makes me nuts. No mindless typing for me...Nope, 100% of the time I have to be completely aware of where my cursor is, or I type sentences that make no sense whatsoever. They end up looking like a drunk person hacked them out. Or, for some reason, this computer, this precious little Dell laptop, will copy things and then randomly paste them into my typing. Sometimes, whole pages from facebook just appear in my paragraphs. Isnt that crazy? What causes this? I cant decide if its this laptop or this program system (Ubuntu). For the time being, im blaming Ubuntu.

The family all came in for brother's 21st birthday. We had our pictures done in "old timey" fashion. They are adorable! Im so glad we did it. Last time I was involved in one of those pics, I was too fat for many of the options. This time, I got to wear a hoop skirt (which I definitely couldnt do last time). Im glad Ive reached the 45lb mark in my weight loss. Well, actually, now Ive exceeded it a tiny bit...Gettin closer to 50lbs every day though!! 60lbs is actually my first "MAJOR" goal in this process, and that is definitely within sight.


We hit up another concert on Monday. This one really makes me feel like a stalker LOL. We drove 3 hours each way, to the WV state fair, just to see Jamey perform for approx 30 minutes (he actually sang longer, but we were late and missed the first couple songs). Then, he left, so we didnt even get to 'meet' him. Wifey did go with, which made it a great trip anyway. Side note: Im working on getting her to sing at the top of her lungs...She is still a rather...reserved singer in the car. Me, on the other hand? Im loud and obnoxious :) (gasp! You could never believe THAT!). We sat through most of Gary Allan at the concert and he did about 2 songs that were good, and one that I could identify with atleast PART of the lyrics (Just got back from Hell?) This picture is what we felt like with Gary.

Now, im just sitting around waiting on Thursday, which starts my work week.. Yay.

Wish I had another concert to go to tonight :)

Our classes start soon, only about 3 more weeks!!! (Also, my next concert is Sept 5) WHOO HOO!!

This quite possibly means Im a bad person....

But I heard the funniest story today. It isnt nice, and results in death of the subject. But here goes.

My moms neighbor, B, and his wife, E, came over to the gathering we had for my brothers 21st. We started talking about my cute little chickens, and he said they used to have 2. Apparently, unbeknownst to them, Gretyl, the hen, was sneaking into the shed and getting into what SHE thought was a bag of chicken food. Over a couple days, poor gretyl broke into her new found stash several times. When B & E returned home one night, Gretyl was laid out, dead. They picked her up only to find that she weighed ALOT more than normal. They did some snooping, and found out that Gretyl had been eating concrete mix. LOL. She thought it was food, when in reality, it was powder concrete. Poor, poor chicken. But come on, it IS a good story! Ok, well you dont HAVE to enjoy it.

Introducing Carcin

Carcin is our newest addition. He's a naughty little kitten. He smothers me with affection, climbs things, yowls when we put him up for the night, and likes to claw my ears while Im napping. Carcin is Hagen's friend. Hagen has gone from a 12 cat household to a 1 cat household and he's lonely. He walks the floor at night, crying and meowing looking for someone to snuggle with him. Its really sad.

Im so happy to only have 2 cats now :) Its amazing. Well, 2 cats and Bobo, the sphynx -still looking for placement. He doesnt count though, since he'll SOON be finding a home. Anyway, here are pictures. Enjoy :)

I will not hear lip about this :)

My small victory. A Tumor?

On Sunday, when i walked into work, the previously mentioned winch that I deal with, started cracking up. I said "uhh what?" since I was kinda confused. She was like Oh Kerri, your clothes are sagging off of you!. Made me happy, since she takes every opportunity to rag at me for my diet, or my choice of losing weight. Atleast she's noticing!

Then, tonight, in Walmart (love me some walmart!), I rubbed the small of my back. I noticed something didnt feel quite right, so I rubbed a different way (not the WRONG way, per se, just a different way) and realized that it feels like a fatty tumor, on a dog. Its mobile, squishy, non-painful. I had a small stroke right there in walmart and started screaming in my best "trying not to panic yet really panicking" voice for John. He definitely thought this was amusing. Apparently you cannot SEE this tumor but he can feel it (which is saying something, cause when our naked cats were 62 days pregnant and the babies were LITERALLY kicking their feet and making pokey places in the stomach, he couldnt feel them). I suppose I'll be making trip #2 to my new family dr. Atleast he's a hot red head :)

Now, Ill be headin on over to visit all my friends blogs and check out some updates... Had me some more coffee...I'll be up a while :)

The class.

So, we had the big scary class. Or Orientation, or 'weed out the weenies', or whatever you wanna call it. It was a big deal! We had a great time though, learned alot, and Im still terrified. We start our MAPP (Model Approach to Parenting and *something*, im guessing starts with a P) in Sept. It'll go for 10 classes, 30 hours. Then, we'll have home visits and stuff like that. its gonna be great! Im really really excited, but scared. I cant wait to see what the future brings for us :)

The gun fire is KILLING me...

Really!! Im going to have an aneurism if they dont quit shooting their freaking guns!!

Every day for 7 days, about 5 minutes apart....BOOM(echo,echo,echo)..silence....BOOM(echo,echo,echo).

It seems today that there are 3 guns shooting? Im all about country living but people, this is getting ridiculous.

And today, the dogs are barking at the gunfire, which leads me to believe it IS getting closer.

I think we're under siege. Maybe I should get out my rifle and start shooting??

*update* The officer told me its a potato gun(s) at the vineyard, which shoots air and stuff at the birds to keep them from eating the grapes. Lovely. He said that luckily, its almost harvest time.

Up again.

This late night gig is becoming has become a habit. I cant even blame the coffee this time. I drank it early, around 10.

I want to say THANKS Tina, for your kind words. I really appreciate you taking the time out of what must be an insanely busy day to give me a pep talk. I spent today feeling very insecure and nervous, and your words helped. I also want to tell you that I cant wait to see pics of your new baby :) And Goodluck on the delivery (do you SAY Goodluck?, is that appropriate?) At any rate, Thanks again!

I emailed the social worker today and asked her if it was normal to be scared to death. She said she hasnt bitten anyone in a long time. Thank goodness she has a sense of humor. I needed that, too. She said it was perfectly normal, and all would be well :) I guess we'll know more tomorrow, after our class! Ive already dressed us in 40 different outfits...Atleast, in my head. I am trying to convince myself that I DO NOT need a new shirt. Because of my weight loss, my clothes are starting to fit slightly strange, but I think i'll be fine tomorrow. Im so nervous! I hope they dont check my fingernails...they'll think im a compulsive fingernail eater :) (Dont worry mom, i washed my hands first). Now, John's fingernails on the other hand...his might've been dirty when I attacked THEM. Only kidding :) Updates tomorrow!!

The late night musings of a coffee drinker.

About 10 oclock, I got the bright idea to have some coffee. 4 cups. 8 packs of splenda, 1 tsp of sugar free creamer. Not decaf. Sleep? Cant sleep. Go figure. Ive already tried rousing husband for conversation. No go. (All I got was a busted lip when he got startled and jerked his fist up.)

Ive designed the chicken coop and fence 3 times. Ive planned our asheville trip to see Randy Houser 3 times. Ive swept the entire house. Once. Checked on the chicks a couple of times. Filled the fish tank. Imagined what Baby Sherman(s) will look like...9 times. (lol, not really 9 times)
Now , im rambling blogging. (As if you didnt know). Apparently, this is the hour when I am most functional. I feel great. My ever permeating headache is gone (Thx coffee, no Thx Ibuprofen!) Ive had 2 liters of water today, and coffee did the trick! The scales are almost giving me positive numbers (here, positive really means negative) since my 10lb gain during loading. That was extremely painful, mind you.

I am finding myself worrying - no, stroking out, over the foster care situation. Will we be accepted? Will the child get to stay with us? Will we even GET a child? Should we go through with it? Are WE stable enough in our relationship to HAVE that responsibility? Are we mature enough? Grown enough? Financially secure enough? Is it easy to fall in love with a baby that isnt your flesh & blood? If its easy for me, will John feel the same way? Im scared. I admit. Im scared to fail some child ive never seen. Im scared to fail my SELF. Im scared WE will fail. I look at people around me having babies, and although I want that, I also know that I want to do THIS. Ive wanted it forever. Adoption has always been something I felt strongly about. I just never realized how scary it was until it was a reality. I always looked at the parameters, and said Ha! You have to be 25...Thats a ways from now...except, it IS now. Wow. Its now. Thats huge! In 6 months, John and I could be foster parents. A baby. A toddler. Maybe siblings. Huge. And now.

Id say wake up, except Im wide awake. Man, its a scary world.

I have...

absolutely nothing to blog about. Nothing. Nada. I cant think of a single thing.
Enjoy my honesty :)