Nathan Ryder Nhat Vo

On June 29, 2011, my best friend Linda gave birth to a healthy 7 pound 6 ounce baby boy.  His name is Nathan Ryder Nhat Vo and we call him Ryder.  While I have been a part of  Linda's Daughter Mya's (11) and her son Anthony's (10) lives since they were 3 and 2, this was my first time being there in the delivery room and seeing my sweet nephew born.  Linda did amazing and she wnet 100% natural.  She was a soldier.  I am a proud auntie.  The experience was way more than I was expecting but since everyone has felt the need to explain every horrible part of the process to me, there were really no surprises.  I was a bit emotional in the few minutes after his birth.  I am so happy for Linda and Ty.

I Want

I have been practicing self control to the best o f my ability for way too long (minus a tiny lapse at Christmas time for a pair of boots) and I just can't take it any more! I want! I want this:

I can't wait till I have one of these:

I mean let's be honest.  It has been nine months since I got my apartment and I still have an empty living room.  In fact I want TONS of things for my apartment that I have resisted. 

I am dying for one of these (preferably this one) to wear at my pool, since I have bought one cheap one since high school.

I want to get my hair done.  I want to get the side of my car fixed.  I want to have cute sun dresses.  I want to  go to the naturopath to figure out my stomach and fatigue issues.   I want to go out to fun dinners on summer nights and have a cocktail.  I want to visit my sister and her husband.  I want to see Jena.  I want to take a dang vacation.  In conclusion, I am just so dang tired of being on broke status.  And that is just how I feel today.

One Year

One Year ago today was my official hire date at Linville Law Firm, PLLC. I had already been working "unofficially" for over a month but that's another story. I am glad to report that I still love my job, I think I have grown a lot here, and my boss is still pleased with me. My employment at Linville Law Firm (as well as my graduation from UW just before) is a testimony that God works all things out for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) Now I am a full-time paralegal at a good firm with a great view with a college degree. It is not where I want to be forever, but it is certainly not a bad place to be for now. I think I might buy a bottle of wine tonight to celebrate!

Larry and Steph

Prep for the Negotiations

Larry and Katrina

The negotiations begin

Larry's Intimidation Tactics

And relief.  All fun and games now.

Yoga

I am pleased to say that I can do these moves now.  Of course they don't look quite this good when I do them (yet) but nonetheless, I have improved.  I didn't used to be able to do them at all.

Restful Yet Productive

I had such a great weekend.  There are no pictures to show how great it was but it was exactly the weekend I wanted.  I was (once again) so tired by the end of the week that the minute I got home I went straight to sleep.  I took a two hour nap and then I spent some time with Darean.  And then I went back to bed around 11.  In the morning I woke up at 9, got my coffee, read my book for a few hours, bid yoga booty (which almost killed me) took a nap, read some more got Thai food with Darean and then read the rest of the evening.  Sunday I cleaned my house until it sparkled and then spent the evening with my family to celebrate my dad and how much he means to each of us.  Then to bed I went.  There is nothing better than starting my week off rested and with a clean house.  Yaye life. : )

Dad, Close Your Eyes

A couple weeks ago I woke up from a nap wanting two things, ice cream and a tattoo.  Weird right?  I get sick when I eat ice cream.  Tattoos on the other hand, I like.  I have been considering getting a tattoo since I was about 15 years old.  I have set my mind on several different designs and locations over the years but turns out I have a serious fear of commitment. This life might be but a fleeting moment but it still last a lot longer than the ink stays pretty.  Anywho, I have the itch kind of strong lately. 

I have also noticed that I really like words. Word tattoos seem to be my favorite. It is all about the meaning.  I just love words that hold so much meaning in some one's life.  In addition to the one from my post last week that says, "To thine own self be true" I also really like these:

This one says "I am my beloved's.  My beloved is mine."

 "There once was a little girl who never knew love until a boy broke her Heart"  I love what it says, I love the font she used and I LOVE where she got it.  Plus, I have found that many of these word tattoos with several lines, the lines don't look perfectly straight and hers does. This is definitely a favorite.

 Cute.  That's all there is to say about it.  (Of course I would have to overcome two fears to get something like that ; )

I would honestly never get a tattoo on my chest but the words that are there and the way they look like they are burned into her chest moved me.

I don't think there is anything to worry about currently, I have toyed with the idea for so many years now that I am not sure I will ever do it.  But who knows.  : )

Arbitration

   Oh my goodness. I am so tired of this damn car accident nonsense! It has been 4 years and 3 months now since an idiot slammed in to the back of my 2003 silver Acura TL (which I loved. Her name was sezzy.) the guy hit me so hard he totalled a $20K vehicle. My trunk ended up in my back seat and my car was pushed into the car in front of it. I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and provided with a treatment plan. However, I had no Personal Injury Protection and though the man admitted responsibility and Allstate (his insurance company) paid for the property damage, they refused to pay for medical.  My health insurance also refused to pay.  So I went without treatment for a year (which always makes the insurance company claim my injuries are not related to the accident).  
   The arbitration is in about 3 1/2 weeks.  I am so anxious.  The results could literally make or brake me.  I have about $19K is medical bills, about $5K of which I paid out of pocket as a broke student workin' at a coffee shop.  The rest is on a lien. I have been slowly (very slowly) catching up after this burden to my financial situation (and the $2K I lost in law school applications).  But it would alleviate a huge amount of stress in my life if I was finally reimbursed for the medical bills I had to pay.  However, the risk is that if things don't go well in the arbitration, I will magically owe about what I paid for my college education (so much for working hard for 10 years to stay out of debt).  And all I did was sit at a red light!
   Seriously, this man has stolen so much of my time, energy, and physical health that sometimes I want to look him up, knock on his door and tell him what I think of him.
   This week I found out most of my witnesses were not going to make it to the arbitration for one reason or another (more nerve wracking for me). 
   Here is the real kicker, if I do get awarded a decent amount, the insurance company can just appeal it and go to trial.  So it will be another 6 months or something and more legal fees and more stress.  sheeesh!  So this is causing unwanted anxiety.  If you think about it, say a little prayer for me.