haa haa, what a dork am I

Ok I was sitting here watching 2001: space odyssey for the fist time and it begins with the so called dawn of man.
This has about 15 men pretending to be chimpanzees in the middle of arid mountains and there are like pig animals walking all around them supposedly habitating in the same desert like area. of course I start racking my brain as to exactly what they were.

Babarusa? nope too tall and snout is too thick
wild hog? no not hairy enough
Peccari? no again
Finally it hit me
They have 12 Bairds Tapirs wandering the land with them.
This is so stupid. These animals are heavy vegitation eaters and live in the dense jungles of Central America.
Why would they be thriving out in the desert?

This movie has lost any kind of good movie credibility with me right from the first scene

As I watch I hate the whole precedence of evolution even more. I just keep seeing stupidity after more stupidity.

I can hardly stand it.

For one to have the chance to relax is usually a real treat. Somehow the act of baing forced to do so really takes all the fun out of it.
I was lucky enough to have 3 days off in a row so off to San Diego I went. I took the train and thus am vehicle less on the days Brian is at work so I am essentially trapped.

I had a tooth pulled today and am just starting to de-numb. But due to the care instructions I am not to talk on the phone too much and can only eat soft foods. err.

Brian has internet and has provided me with a great computer, lots of movies and lots of napping areas. but man I feel like I am going crazy.
I already watch my whole will it blend DVD which was a nice start but eh, I am just feeling blah now.
The part that bothers me the most I think is the phone thing. I really wish I could call people and just jab that would make my day go much faster.
anyway back to my mind numbing day.
hopefully I survive

What is going on

Yeah yeah I have seemed to vanish but my blog is back.

God has been keeping me extra busy and tired but that is gonna get better.
I got fulltime at the zoo and will for the first time in my life have a regular, steady, day only, work schedule.
I might go bonkers. Though I may have the same days off every week I most likely will not ever get to go to day services in church on Sundays for along time. This Sunday I am gonna probably be at Upper Room for the last time. And after that it will be night service at Mid Cities from now on. Yes I will be returning from la la land.
This past week I had that great news and I also lost my kitty which totally sucked. he fell out the window on Friday afternoon and we can't find him. So no animals for the animal keeper.
Brian and I are doing well. Everyday I continue to be with him I realize how much God really did make him for me. and I am so excited to marry him.

The wedding plans are going and I am feeling more confident but a lot more stuff to go.

I don't know there is so much stuff to write.

This last weekend went well and I got to meet Brain's fathers side of the family and he got to meet some of my fathers side, who were visiting from New Mexico.

I worked with new animals today at the zoo and successfully did not die. What a goal to have huh.

well I need to go recoup from my day and plan for another early 4am wake up.
I promise I will not take so long to update.

my cool shoes

look at what I made

I love it.

So far i will now have at least 3 pairs of shoes to wear at my wedding. Brian's mom will be Proud.

Brian has Groom converse too. When they are done I will post a picture.

celebration

Well I am planning a Bonfire fun celebration for Saturday night the 28th at Huntington State Beach. I would love it if all my buds could come (You). I am going today to scope out and see what pits I want but I just wanted to get the word out. I have to work and won't get there till 6pm but I will have family there. and the fire will be ready. Prepare yourself for a fun beach time with hot dogs, smores and sand.
I will try to limit the never ending sand soccer games, we have had in the past but who knows.
Brian and I just want to have a good time with everyone and celebrate what is happeneing, and get my friends together from my neck of the woods that may not know him the best.
If you could let me know if you can/can't make it that would be cool so I can have a good munchie count.

see you soon.

So True

Look at what I am marrying

the details

well I am now engaged. I have been talking and telling this story so much my voice hurts. so now I am going to jot it down. Here is the grand event and all the details.

This last weekend Brian and I (though through a few set backs) were able to go up to Mount Shasta for my Friend Jill's wedding. We had a great time and I was happy to be there with him.
Sunday after a few short goodbyes to great friends we started on our 13 hour drive back to San Diego. Yeah it was as fun and comfortable as you could possibly imagine. Now Brian and I have been discussing marrying each other and had been mush with each other all weekend (we were at a wedding). I had bugged him a lot and kept saying I was gonna have a heart attack before he asked me. So he had to distract me with a lie. he said he had ordered the ring but the jeweler still had to do somethings to it and it would be several weeks before he had it. I was appeased slightly by that and just enjoyed being with him while I anxiously waited.

We finally made it home at 11pm. I was tired, even though he did a majority of the driving, and I had to get up at 330 to make it back to the zoo. As soon as we each made our necessary visits to the facilities it was time to rest...well at least I thought so.
I came out and the house was dark. I hollered "where are you" from the dark love seat in the living room I hear "I am over here waiting for you." Willing to snuggle a little after 14 hours in the car I go and sit next to him and lay my head on his chest.As soon as I put my ear to his chest I could hear his heart. It was dark and quiet and I told him i could hear his heart beating. He replied, "It is beating for you." My quick response in total Rhonda fashion was, " That was extra cheesy"
He started laughing which is one of the nicest things in our relationship is that we totally laugh with each other.
we get back to snuggle mode and he starts talking to me. Telling me how much he loved me and how he was so glad god had brought me into his life. Sadly because I was so tired and had already been talking with him all weekend about lovey stuff I do not remember the exact thing he said except one part.
I for a while and when I met him, while in Chula Vista, I had a little daters quote on my wall to make sure I was not just jumping at any guy who bought me candy. it says, "When dating the search is not for someone you can live with, it is for someone you CAN'T live without!" this little sign was a good help for several years now to evaluate how realistic some relationships or potential relationships were. Well while we are sitting together he says to me " Rhonda I can't live with out you!" this got me excited just from remembering the sign and knowing he paid attention, BUT then, he pulled out a box.
He opened it up and *Bling* literally from the inside it gleams open, there was a light in the box and the dark room really made it shine. I was so excited and surprised. He asked me, "Will you marry me!"
I think the first thing outta my mouth when he opened the box was "Oh my Gosh" but then I made sure I said YES. I was excited and overwhelmed, but I fell bad when I watch someone ask and she starts crying and freaking out and forgets to answer. So after I made my required response I started to freak. I cried and hugged him and kissed him. I think we hugged for like 3 minutes straight.
Eventually I calmed down enough to let him get the ring out of the cool box and put it on my finger. That was kinda surreal. I never thought I would be where I am now. I thought I would be happy single aunt Rhonda, but God obviously had other plans and all you that wanna say I told you so about meeting someone in San Diego, i get it I have heard it at least 6 times.
I am happy to be marrying Brian and am so glad he is in my life.
This is my story I almost immediately called my parents then updated my blog and my space and then texted half the people I knew. I was so exhausted the next day but God gave me the adrenaline to keep it going.
If you want his side of the story check out His blog. ta ta!

WOW!!

and YES!
Were two words that I uttered when Brian asked me tonight to marry him.


Here is the extreme close up

this weekends energy

Special Olympics State games just happened it was fun but really wore me out. Check out my team as we were leaving. Yes they won lots of medals and worked hard. We are the crazy coaches in long beach but we are okay with that, track has to be fun.
Brain even came saturday and sunday. It was quite the spectacle that Rhonda had a Boyfriend. It is a good thing I like him or I might have been uncomfortable.
I was glad he came but was expecting him to be more uncomfortable than he let on to be.
In fact he even made freinds with Dawn. Well she was all sniggly on him within 10 min. She is cute and so is he so I guess they do okay together.

Look at what a cute couple.
She did not want to walk anywhere without him that night.

awww.

my artistic skills

This fathers day over a bowl of jelly bellys my family started discussing the jelly belly art. They were bugging me that I had spread a majority of the beans on the table top and so I said i would do my aunts portrait with the spilled beans.

This is my Aunt Debbie.
This is my art.

I think I should retire from bean art.

the perks

Even with all the lack of sleep and long days , things like this almost make it all worth it. one week old baby Sumatran tiger cubs. I totally stayed late to play with them.

So cute yet ferrocious, haa haa

Now that is the cool stuff God gives me the opportunity to do!

Rest?

Maybe one day this will be in my vocabulary other than in the prase, "I don't get to rest."

God keeps me going though and oddly though I am in a never ending state of exhaustion I am doing well.
The zoo is going well I am now one of the Koala Keepers, and they are super cute. We are going to get tazmanian devils by the end of the year so that will be cool to. No zoo's in USA have any right now.
I have man hands. Well at least mechanic hands. Thanks to the zoo I have calliced palms and fingers. Lots of scabs from slicing my fingers and every wrinkle in my hand is defined by black which seems to be permanent. probobly from the hoses. My finger nails are in a semi permanent state of dirty. Sorry Brian. I tend to get into the modes of I don't care, but right now I kinda do. It just means I have to take some of my rest time, if any, to work on them a bit.
Build a Bear has kinda fizzled out for me and is basically just something I do to make ends meet and to make myself tired. This kinda makes me sad because it should never have been that way. I used to love my job and the company and never imagined ever leaving or getting over it. But I might be.
Brian and I have been on our toes and on the road a lot lately. I have been a regular train passenger on a weekly basis and Brian has been willing to come and spend his weekends in LA with me even though I work everyday. Thank you those little times mean a lot. Just being able to pretend to be normal and make dinner at home is nice. Not worrying about when I will get to see him again or how much I am driving and if I will stay awake. I miss going to church with him and I am glad that he is willing to stay so we can go together even if it means taking 7 freeways and coming with a dirt covered girlfriend.
The next weekends should be nice. I have them off but in typical me fashion they are jam packed and will add to my exhaustion. A wedding in the mountains complete with camping this will be nice but it means we have to drive back from mount shasta in one day. 12 hours to San diego for Brian. and Special Olympics this weekend. I have not gotten to go to a single meet this season due to my zoo schedule but I am excited and will be so very tired on sunday afternoon when we go to see my family for fathers day and june b-days. Ah!! when does it stop?
I know God is the only reason I make it through this week after week and I am thankful that He is who I talk to first thing in the morning and all throughout my long days. He has been doing so much in my life this year and I enjoy every moment I suddenly see a bit more of his plan. It makes the tiredness go away sometimes. He is the one who gave me the ability to sleep soundly at any moment I was comfy so my body could rest and pretend to handle all that I do. I just need to find a way to be a little less comfortable when I am driving.

VOTE!

As most of you know Brian's hair color is not currently the color that grows out of his scalp. I often bug him about changing it back to his natural color. Now this would be interesting except there is a bit of fear in me as to whether I will still like how he looks with brown hair. I Want to give it a chance. I have bugged him more recently about it and I think he is actually considering it. So today on my day off I fiddled with a new techy tool, thanks to said Boy. and I want your opinion.
Below you will find 2 pictures. One with the current style, and one as a result of my very bad editing skills (not the best but it will do).
I want you to vote, leave a comment and tell me, what color is better for Brian. This should be fun!

this is how he looks now.

this is how he COULD look in the future. Hopefully if he does grow it out it won't look so much like chocolate pudding.

Please VOTE.

Will it blend?

this is my new favorite website and I enjoy watching every trial. hey sometimes you just need some mindless entertainment, especially after a 9 day work week.

I survived

I met the MOM, and the family. It was cool and it was a great trip. I even got to see his moms shoe collection. well half of it. the fall/winter shoes are put away in the garage. Wii played video games with the whole family. Brian got asked why his hair was 2 colors by his 5 year old cousin. I got put in my place by her 3 year old brother, apparently his muscles are bigger than both Brian's and mine. We had BBQ and homemade Pie. Church on Sunday and a long drive home. Besides Granny I am not totally sure what they think of me, but we all made it through the weekend and I think everyone had fun.

Best of all I got to feel like being with Brian all the time was NORMAL. It is hard being away from him sometimes, especially this week and I am not totally sure why. But I guess I should be thankful that I at least get to see him on a regular basis.

A typical date..

..is never typical when you are dating a geek.
I love Brian but at times I seem to step back a bit and truly realize how geeky he is. But I like it so I guess i am kinda geeky too.
So since I am involved with a guy with such interests we obviously do some pretty unique things.
Yeah typical date may be movie, snack and an activity. That may be for most people.
Here is the Ultimate geek date we went on a couple weeks ago.
Movie:3-D Imax about the Ocean
Snack: Astronaut Ice cream
Activity: Star Wars Museum complete with live characters. Yes, Darth Vader was there.

The funniest part (or best part, Brian thinks.) This was all MY Idea.
Should I be afraid? I guess I am okay as long as I am not speaking Klingon.

I had a great time though and I really like doing things that make Brian excited. I love him and anything I can do to spend time with him and make him happy is pretty cool with me.
Don't worry I am not a treker....yet.

Same keeper, New Shoes

Wow! It has been a month. I am so very sorry. here is a update and I hope I can keep up from now on.
I am having a great time at the zoo and getting to do more and more every week. Today I learned how to care for the new meerkat and the Brown Pelicans, I will be all alone doing it on Monday. I am Being Trained on the S. American Primate String, basically lots of little monkeys. even two kinds with Red Hair!
I love it. It fits. Yes the Park the zoo is in is Burning but God kept the Zoo and the animals safe, thanks for your prayers and worries. I have officially been at the zoo for over 5 years and I just bought my first new pair of new work footwear since I first started. My old boots were literally coming apart at the seams. And wouldn't you know when I am supposed to be deciding on a pair of functional footwear i find myself sitting and contemplating over which pair to choose based on how CUTE they are. odd huh, why do you need cute shoes to step in poop with? I dunno but I guess I do. I think Brian's mom would understand.
Well I bought my summer shoes as I like to think of them, because they will look better with shorts on those 100+ degree days.
I like my shoes, but had an issue when buying them. I am cheap! It is really hard for me to spend money, especially on myself. I used to run and I pride myself on the fact that I never spent over $40 on a pair of shoes. I hunt for bargains and don't usually care about brand names. Even though these were necessary safety equipment for work I was having a problem with the price. I sat for almost 10 min trying to decide weather or no to buy these things, but in the end I did. $60, on sale. That is officially the most I have ever spent on a single pair of shoes EVER.
I like them and I find myself admiring them as I wander the zoo (especially since it has been quiet and closed to the public the last 2 days.) I will have my short debut tomorrow seeing as how it is getting way too hot, and Brian will be coming to visit in the afternoon.
Now I just have to enjoy them and hope they will last a year or so. but I still have to find some Winter shoes, I better start saving!

You've been PINKED!!

This is a missions fundraiser my church group from San Diego was doing. The way it worked was you could pay $25 to have 25 flamingos put into an unsuspecting friends lawn/office, etc. Well this event has gone on for a couple of weeks and been pretty funny to see the results. well it ended today. So Me being the best girlfriend I could and also supporting my friends and the spreading of the gospel, I PINKED BRIAN.
Here is his house with a few unexpected guests over for bible study.




Now he knows a little of what it s like to be around Flamingos. He thought he was safe. Obviously he underestimated the power of a red head.

Do you want my autograph?

I got my Official uniform last Friday and got to wear it for the first time on Tuesday. I like the jacket the most, even though it is really a bit large. I feel official and must have looked it due to some of my responses from strangers while stopping at the store on the way home.
The common first question is "What do you do?" I respond,"I am a zoo keeper." then they usually ask me what I work with, and whether or not I have gotten bit.
One lady actually asked what a zoo keeper did. I figured everyone over 5 already knew the answer to that.
It was fun. I felt like a celebrity. I like wearing MY Jacket.

Snow leopards, Tigers and Bears...oh My!

Sounds scary I know but it is actually where I feel the most at home. I got a chance to escape the land of birds and Dorothy, the keeper I volunteered with for 4 years, stole me away and iIgot to officially train on her string. It was really cool to be back like old times since I have not gotten to work with her since December. One of the coolest parts is that now I had Keys.

As I go throughout the zoo during my days there are often little moments that catch my senses and make me step back and enjoy it a little more.
Footprints in the mud often do this to me. I will be doing the regular rake and clean routine preparing to open up and suddenly as I try to avoid the gooshy mud I get entranced by how cool and experience I get to have. How many people get to experience tiger, bear, or snow leopard prints. Even more the animals themselves.
Well on Tuesday I had another one of these moments. I was locking one of the multiple locks in the back area of tigers. While you are doing this you are literally inches from this:
and they really want to eat you. I was finishing locking and suddenly felt the hot breath of an angry tiger on my hand. WOW! How cool. I am glad I can experience some thing so unique , but I am also thankful to have both my arms and all of my fingers.