Life Group

Thiago & I have been attending our Couples Life Group for about 2 months (I think). We are loving it, we look forward to going every Wednesday and wish it just wasn't 1 night a week. In our life group we have about 6 other couples and we are watching a DVD seminar Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage. Mark Gungar is hilarious and practical about relationship and marriages.

You have to check him out on youtube - these are a couple of my favorites from last night

Men's Brain Women's Brain

 Give or Take? (part 1)

Are you a giver or a taker? The roles can switch, men can be givers and women can be takers.

Ask more than once (Part 2)

Enjoy! I am sure you could youtube the whole seminar.

The Probaos' come to visit

Time had finally come and Melina, Daniel and Lucca came to visit for a little less 2 week.

While they were here we went shopping a lot, to Carowinds and Myrtle Beach. It was so much fun. Thiago and I have never been to Carowinds or Myrtle Beach.

Thanks to AAA we were able to enjoy the park at a discounted price. Carowinds was a nice amusment park and we were all able to enjoy some adult rides and of course the kiddie rides.

Where we stayed at in Myrtle Beach was about a 4 hour drive but it was so much fun. We got a room at a great rate - AAA come through again. The room we stayed in has a little kitchen so we were able to cook and not have to eat out for every meal for the 2 days we were there.

Jane Update

We took Jane to the vet again today for a follow up appointment. She does not like the vet at all, hissing since the minute we walked in the door.

The vet said to keep her on the liquid medicine for the herps. He also suggests we bring her to a ophthalmologists.

Needless to say we have yet to make an appointment but we are still giving her the medicine. We will take it 1 day at a time.

new addition to the Primo Family

That's right, the Primo family is growing by two. Two new pets that is. We went to Pet Smart to see what they had for Jane and I feel in love with the Dwarf Hamsters. We decided to buy 2 so they would have a play mate. If we did not buy them together than we could never add another hamster in the future or they would fight to death.

Meet Sugar and Spice

another vet visit

Today was the day we take Jane to another vet to get a second look. I was pretty nervous all day for Jane, i knew how she would react to going to another vet and I did not really want her to be drugged just so she could be looked at.

While I was getting her ready I have her some treats hoping that would calm her down at the vets. On the ride to the vet's it helped and while we were waiting she didn't make a noise. Once we were in the exam room and I went to pet her she hissed at me. When the assistant came in to talk to me Jane was acting up.

The assistant looked over the paperwork I had from the other vet and then took Jane to see the doctor. A couple minutes later Jane and the doctor were back in the exam room. I liked how this doctor just took the top off the crate Jane was in rather than trying to pull her out of the crate. He said sometimes it helps the cat calm down because she is use to the crate. Jane's attitude did not change but the doctor was able to get an okay look in her eyes and would like us to look at her eyes at home and take notes what we see.

The doctor said Jane has herpes and Uveitis. He said he has seen cases like this before in other cats and the medicine has cleared it up. So we left with 2 types of medicine - 1 pill and 1 gel that we have to give her twice a day. When we got home we tried the gel medicine which was a little hard.

I will keep you all updated with Jane's progress.

Mary Kay table for Teacher's Day

Today was Teacher's Day at local Staples and Office Depots. I was able to talk to the manger at Staples and set up a table outside with Mary Kay products.

All week I have been perparing and I was excited to for this event.

When I got to Staples, it looked like the people were waiting for a concert. When I arrived I called the manger so I could introduce myself and give him my business card. He did mention other people were inside selling other things.

As Thiago and I were setting up the table. I made an annocement about my table, which I am glad I did because little did I know there was a Sales Director from Mary Kay inside.

I was able to talk to people as they were entering and as well as they were exiting Staples. People did mention that someone was inside and that they had a different basket to raffle, but I didn't care. That made me want to get more business :)

In the end I had 18 Skin Care Survey's filled out and handed out a bunch of free samples. After the people filled out the Skin Care Survey they were able to take a free sample; Satin Hands, Color Card (eye shadow, blush and lip stick) or lip gloss (3 different colors).

I did not get any orders placed while I was at Staples but I did give the handouts out to everyone who walked by. The hand outs explained that if they place an order up until midnight they will recieve tax free and 10% off.

When I got home I was exhausted, I had a yummy frozen Margarita and took a nap. Then I picked a name out of the surveys and contacted the Winner. When I brought Nancy her basket she was so happy. She told me she was going to contact me to order some more blush and I reminded her about the 10% off she can recieve up until midnight.

Mary Kay raffle basket a $54 value

Top view of basket

My table :)





Humming bird feeder

As a house warming gift we got a hummingbird feeder. We decided to put a hanging plant outside instead of the feeder. With all of the heat and me not being home to water the plant, the plant has seem much better days.

After the gym I was walking around the complex and saw some hummingbirds at other people's feeders. The light bulb in my head went off so when I got home I set up the feeder outside.

I hope we get visitors :)

Home again

After a long week in Seebring Florida for a wireless survey I am home. The week was very long and a lot of walking, I would say within the week I walked around 25 miles or so.

Nights after work were every uneventful until Thursday night. Thursday we worked a half day and then drove about 2 hours to Orlando to meet up with Lana and have a meeting as another customer site. The customer is looking for what was started of a wireless survey. The details in the meeting sounded very complex so who knows what is going to happen.

After the meeting, I drove with Lana while Russ did his own thing since we have 2 hours to kill. I got to drive Lana's rental car, a red mustang. We go to the area where the Restraunt was and found a spa and got a mani and pedi which was very nice and relaxing. After all that crazy-ness - the credit card machine being down and I tried to get cash from the ATM using my credit card which sent Thiago an alert and he thought I was kidnapped (the way Brasillian's think) it was time to get some drinks.

We had dinner at Ocean Prime. We met 2 guys from Adventist in Florida and talked a little business but mostly just had a enjoyable evening.

After socializing at the bar it was time for our dinner reservations. I had blue cheese wedge and shrimp and pasta (very yummy). Dessert we all shared cheese cake (which I thought tasted like a cardboard box) and key lime pie. After some more drinks it was back to the bar. Lana and I were back at the hotel by midnight.

Friday  Russ and I finished the documentation of the wireless survery so Russ was happy he could fly home earlier than planned. Lana and I headed to the airport around 3. I drove again and met a very nice cop who let me off with a warning. Ya mustangs, nevermind red ones are cop magnets :)

After all was said and done we go to the airport with time to kill. Going through security I got recomendly selected to have my hands checked for explosives... (do I look like I am from the middle east). Lana and I had time to still kill so we stopped at Ruby Tuesday's and each had a drink and some food. Then it was off to catch our flight.

Lana was flying back home to GA via CLT. Who know we would be sitting next to each other in a exit row with on now in the middle. It was nice having an empty seat and also a plus knowing the other person. Getting home was no problem. As I was pulling into my parking spot and walking in the door, Lana was getting on her flight home.

All in all it was a great week (as always) with a little fun mixed in :) Glad to be home until Sept (I think, it's always a surpise when it's time for me to book my ticket).

IKEA trip #1

Yes I said trip #1 of many more to come :) This afternoon Thiago & I finally made it to IKEA. After we finally found it (stupid GPS directions) it was all fun & games. As we first walked in I was already over whelmed.

This place was HUGE and that was only walking into the first level. After I picked up a cool yellow bag (just in case), it was time to adventure into this IKEA world I have been hearing about. We totally love how there is furniture broken down by room, bedroom, office, living room, kitchen, green room man the list could go on and on.

We took a long look in the living room and office area. We found our new living room table and the desk I love, which we will get some other time.

Going to the "warehouse" was a little over whelming as well. Luckly we wrote down the information we needed so we could just go and pick up the coffee table.

Building the coffee table was not hard at all. IKEA makes it so much earlier than other build your own furniture has been in the past. I was to say it look Thiago & I 10 mins or less to build the table.

We love that we have more living room floor now with the smaller table and we actully use the recliener and ottoman without having to move the table around or basically jump over the table to get to the couch.

Jane is so use to laying on the bottom of our table its funny to watch her try to do the same thing now. Since we have our photo albums on the shelf there isn't much room and plus the table isn't as wide so she falls right off. It's too funny.

Under the Same Moon

We watched another Netflix movie, Under the Same Moon. This movie is another instant movie which we love so we don't have to wait for them to arrive in the mail.

This is based on a true story. It makes you think about how people will do anything to come into USA illegally  for a better life.



My Sisters Keeper

Another movie on Netflix is My Sisters Keeper. This is a movie you have to add to your queue to receive in the mail.

Kind of similar to Letters to God. Kate is the oldest child out of 3, Kate has cancer. This story has a very different twist the story. Anna who is the youngest child has been "created" to help her sister survive. I do not want to ruin the rest of the movie, please check out the trailer.

Once again another movie I suggest to have kleenex near by.

Enjoy!

Mary Kay Survey's

After spending last night prepping for the Skin Care Surveys I was going to put out in the office, I finally talked to Sharon. I wanted to make sure I could put everything out in the office. I could not put the things in the office but I put it in the laundry room - which I feel is a better idea since more people probably do laundry then go into the office.

I printed a bunch of the Skin Care Survey's both Amanda and Michelle provided me and I added some more information. I also put out a containter so people could place the finished survey's in. It was Thiago idea to cover the container so it was more "private" since phone numbers and emails were asked. There will be a drawing on August 23rd for the winner of the free facial and gift. I am thinking the gift will be either Satin Hands or Satin Lips or maybe both.

I am so excited I have put this out. Hope to stir up some more business. Also I plan to use this in the future, maybe again in the complex or else where.

Letters to God

Letters to God is a movie on Netflix, the great thing is you can watch it on instantly. It is a very inspirational movie about a young boy who has cancer. He writes letters to God in hopes to bring happiness in others lives. It is a must see and is on my movie list to own.

Check out the trailer.

If you watch it let me know what you think about it. Oh make sure you have Kleenex near by.

Enjoy!

More Brasillian food

Today after church we finally went on another hunt for egg roll wraps. Walmart finally sold it so we bought a package. With the egg roll wraps we made pastel's. They were SO yummy - just like in Brasil. I even made the salas you can put in them as you are eatting them. We had meat, meat and chesse and chesse.

Can't wait to make them again.

pretty sweet Mary Kay commerials on youtube

I was just browsing youtube this evening and found some pretty neat Mary Kay commerials out there. There is a TON of them which is pretty awesome.

Thiago and I talked to his parents today and they were asking about Mary Kay. His Mom wanted to know how much stuff was here and then telling me the price in Brasil. Its INSANE. Maybe when Melina, Lucca and Daniel come to visit they will be bring make up back with them :)

Still trying to get more customers around here but once again my friends and family are helping me out a lot. Thanks guys!!

Love & Miss you.

Always an adventure at the vets

This afternoon was Jane's vet appointment for her vaccines. As always she makes the vet visit such an adventure. While she was in her crate waiting in the exam room her hissing and growling began. The nurse couldn't even take her temp without Jane going crazy with movement and hissing at her.

When the Doctor came in to take a look Jane acted the same way. The dr. was able to look at her eyes from about 2 feet away and couldn't see her pupil due to her cloudyness in her eyes. Finally they decided she needed to be sedated just to be examed and recieve her vaccines.

After the 2nd attemp with the sedation it was successful.  They had to put Jane in a device they refer to as the clamp. She is sitting on one part while the part on the left goes over her and she is trapped in a little square. With the mesh covering she is able to get the sleepy drug. They needed to give her the drug just for them to touch her.

After about 30 minutes she was knocked out and the doctor was able to take a much better look at her. I almost cried because Jane was so lifeless and like a ragdoll. The doctor had never seen anything like this before. She went back to ask other doctors and next thing I am told she is on the phone with a specialist and also looking through text books. Long story short, they would like to do more tests on her to figure her eyes and if they can not figure it out they suggest her to go to a eye doctor for cats. We love Jane so much and as much as we want her to have a great life with eye sight she is a very happy cat and has wonderful owners. We have decided not to contuine with the million exams,  these exams will be very costly and we do not want to put her through all this.

They believe she  has glaucoma but who knows?! vets will do a billion tests and still not know what is wrong, Running a million tests without a conclusion has already happened. she is a happy kitty, that's all that matters.

After 2.5 hours at the vets she finally was able to go home and after a couple hours she returned to her normal self again. She weights 6.7 lbs.

I just hope Jane does not hate us for not contuining to figure our her eye problem. Jane, Mommy & Daddy both love you VERY much.

Cisco Career Certifications

I finally got my certifications came in the mail. I feel offical now

Cisco Data Center Support for UC Specialist



Cisco Unified Computing Technology Support Specialist



prices are going up

As for Sept 1 2011, Netflix prices are going up. Unlimited Streaming + 1 DVD out at-a-time (Unlimited) plan will change to $17.98 (which also includes the $2 more for blu-ray a month)

What are your thoughts about Netflix now? When this price change does take in effect will you contuine to use it or cancel?

To check out how much your plan will change price wise, log into netflix and go to account and the information will be there...

Friends and family come to visit

Since it was the long weekend it seemed like everyone wanted to come visit us. Thiago's friend Nick came to visit (June 29 - July 4) and Sarah came to visit as well (July 2 - 6). Thiago's other cousin and his wife who live in Canada also wanted to visit is, I guess we need a bigger place :-p

Thiago & I making pizza

Sarah making it across the rope bridge

Nick making his way across the rope bridge

Sarah is having fun

Look Mom no hands

me, helping the instructor, Amy hook her camel pack on lol

Shane the other instructor getting everything set up for us

We are ready :)

Gates' sister are all smiley

Sarah, Nick and Thiago all geared up and ready to go

Me just chillen



Having fun!



Waiting for the fireworks to begin

Waiting for the fireworks

Let the show begin...

Can't wait to go back and try out the White Water Rafting course

Frisbee Golf is definally one of my new hobbies

Sarah and the Pups

Ready to throw

and release

Pretty frisbee's in the goal

Thiago even tried

Can't wait to go again

After a long day of frisbee golf, the pool was totally needed

Celebrating the 4th of July

Having fun, as always

As you can see by the photo's we had a busy 3 day weekend. Saturday & Sunday we saw firworks at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Sunday we went on the zip line tour, which was awesome.

The tour reaches heights in excess of 60 feet in the hardwood trees that lace a 90 foot deep canyon before working its way through a wetlands delta and then proceeding along the banks of the Catawba River. Along the Tour, you will travel through the trees as you experience, sky bridges, cargo net climbs, rappel stations, 7 zip-lines and other aerial elements. It was pretty awesome and would totally do it again.

When we had down time we were either in the pool or playing frisbee golf. We had great weather so I can not complain.