Marriage Meme

Shamelessly stolen from Sleeping Mommy.

Marriage Meme

1. Where/how did you meet?

LMK and I met on the internet. We met in a chatroom at the old Geocities site (before it was Yahoo! Geocities). All their chat rooms where HTML based, not Java like the chat rooms today. I still prefer that kind of chatroom. Anyway, I had been chatting there for several months and one day I entered and overheard...overead him talking about getting shot. (!!!!) I struck up a converstation from there and the rest, as they say, is history.

2. How long have you known each other?

This year will make 10 years. Wow...10 years.

3. How long after you met did you start dating?

This is all so tricky. Technically, we did the long distance relationship for about a year after we met. We actually met in person on his 20th birthday. We finally got to be together every day when I went to Tech in the fall of 1998. So...you decide when the "official" dating began.

4. How long did you date before you were engaged?

We got engaged in September of my sophmore year at Tech. He proposed here:


Someday I am going to get a painting of it framed and hung in our house. I love the duck pond gazebo.

5. How long was your engagement?

A little over a year.

6. How long have you been married?

We just celebrated our 6th anniversary this December.

7. What is your anniversary?

December 30th

8. How many people came to your wedding reception?

We expected about 150, but it was snowy so less showed up. Everyone was there that I wanted to be there.

9. What kind of cake did you serve?

Cake-y cake. It was white cake with butter cream frosting. Very pretty and very simple.

10. Where was your wedding?

The wedding was at my church. I love the decorations they have for Christmas so we didn't need to do much decorating. All we did was add poinsettias.

11. What did you serve for your meal?

Some lemon chicken thing, rigatoni, salad, green beans, hashbrown casserole, and I forget what else. The place where we had the reception had wonderful food and they included decorating. It was beautiful.

12. How many people were their in your bridal party?

Four on each side.

13. Are you still friends with them all?

Since over half of them were family, yes. Two were my husband's younger cousins, one was my brother, one was my husband's father, and one was my cousin. My husband's best friend and two of my friends rounded out the eight. Out of my two friends, only one is sketchy and that's because we're both busy with out lives and don't get together like we should. I know if I needed her I could call her. Just as I hope she would do if she needed me. The other is Twin.

14. Did you or your spouse cry during the ceremony?

Not really. I was too nervous. Although, I did get a little choked up when LMK said his vows. He was so serious. It was nice to know he really meant them.

15. Most special moment of your wedding day?

Ummm...marrying LMK? Oh! And dancing with my grandfather, he died the following June.

16. Any funny moments?

I would have to say my husband, father-in-law, brother, father, and LMK's cousins doing the YMCA in ridiculous hats was the highlight of my day.

17. Any big disasters?

Two days before the wedding my father was "cleaning" and accidentally threw away my veil. It wouldn't have been a big deal but it was my mom's veil from her wedding and I'd spent hours gluing rhinestones and pearls to it. Shut up, I wanted to sparkle! :o)

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Disney World!

19. How long were you gone?

11 days, we drove so that makes it about 8 days at Disney.

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?

Nothing really. A lot of people still tell my mom that it was the most fun wedding they've ever been to. Plus, it ended up being pretty inexpensive.

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

My side...which is usually the middle. I don't share well.

22. What size is your bed?

Queen

23. Greatest strength as a couple?

We've been told by several people that we have a really strong relationship and I agree. I think our honesty and our consideration for each other are definitely strengths. However, our greatest strength is probably our sense of "team". We are a team. Together we can do anything.

24. Greatest challenge as a couple?

Definitely my stubborness. Plus all of LMK's health problems...those seem to be in check now, so they don't really count.

25. Who literally pays the bills?

Right now, LMK makes the money and I pay the bills. However, this housewife crap is not all it's cracked up to be. I'm bored!

26. What is your song?

We don't have a song really. I never understood that "our song" junk. However, our wedding song is what we've decided is our song.

27. What did you dance your first dance to?

My Best Friend by Tim McGraw

I never had no one
I could count on
I've been let down so many times
I was tired of hurtin'
So tired of searchin'
'til you walked into my life
It was a feelin
I'd never known
And for the first time
I didn't feel alone

You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Everytime I look at you
I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend
You're my best friend, oh yeah

You stand by me
And you believe in me
Like nobody ever has
When my world goes crazy
Youre right there to save me
You make me see how much I have
And I still tremble
When we touch
And oh the look in your eyes
When we make love

You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Everytime I look at you
And I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend
You're my best friend

You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Everytime I look at you
And I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend
You're my best friend (my best friend)
You're my best friend (my best friend)

28. Describe your wedding dress?

I wish I could just put a picture like SM did (good idea). However, I don't have one scanned and all my pictures are in Ohio. Boo. My dress was made for me. Mainly because I liked the sleeves of this dress, the neckline of that dress, the train of this dress, etc. My dress was short sleeved, A-line dress, with a princess neckline. Then we bought beaded lace and put it at the top of the dress (around the neckline) and at the bottom of the train. It was beautiful. Oh, and I also had the dressmaker sew my grandmother's initials into the train of my dress in light blue. Have I mentioned I LOVED my dress. It's a shame I only got to wear it once. I'd love to wear it again and again. But we got it dry cleaned and preserved so I would have it for years to come.

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?

Huge red and white poinsettias around the church (they were beautiful). Then the bouquets were evergreen and red and white roses. We actually ordered them from the local grocery store. They were really pretty and much cheaper than going to the florist in town. Some of my mom's family is in the flower business (they're pretty big in the flower business actually) so we didn't feel we could do artificial flowers. We ended up getting the poinsettias from my cousin wholesale. Then we donated them to the church for shut-ins. Our bouquets were stuck into paper bags and frozen for a year. They still look pretty darn good!

30. Are your wedding bands engraved? What do they say?

Nope, mine is too thin to be engraved. I wanted to engrave LMK's with "PUT IT BACK ON", but he didn't find the humor in that. Hehehehehe.

It's the end of the world...

and I feel fine.

I've said it before, but I am going to say it again. These people are hilarious!

They're predicting 4 inches of snow and possibly some ice over the next 24 hours. While I would really like to get some more firewood, since we're almost out, it's the only thing we really need. Of course, we don't have anything to load the wood into and I don't want to pay $200 for wood (it's like burning money). So it would seem we're at an impass.

Anyway...according to one of the maintenence guys (the one that was at our house no less than 3 times yesterday), there will be no bread, milk, or toilet paper at the grocery store because everyone is stock piling. Meanwhile, in Ohio they're under a blizzard watch. I can understand those people getting some extra supplies. 18-20 inches of snow in a day is big trouble even in an area where they get a lot of snow each year.

All I know is I sent brownies up for the maintenence guys today since they've been really great about fixing all our house problems. I'm hoping things will stop breaking now so we can quit calling them. I feel like I see them more than LMK. One guy commented yesterday that if he came back again today the neighbors would start to talk. Yes, they would!

It's starting to ice here, so I am going to go get some housework done. Luckily, I don't have to leave in this awful weather. Yay for unemployment! If you need us, Socks and I will be warming ourselves by the fire....until we run out of firewood.


Stay warm, stay safe everyone!

Meme Monday

I haven't forgotten about figuring out why skinny people make me nervous, I just don't feel like figuring it out today. So I will meme. I found this on MySpace. Adapted it to the blog.

So these be the rules
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn't make sense. NO CHEATING!
4. Tag 5 people. (Note: I don't tag.)
5.With the answers, give your own comments on how it relates to the questions. (Comments are in italics)

So here goes!!

1. How are you feeling today?
Leave the Pieces - The Wreckers ~ Hmmm...not really. Melancholy is good though.

2. Will you get far in life?
Always Tomorrow - Princess Diaries soundtrack ~ Ooooo...good choice.

3. How do your friends see you?
Me and My Gang - Rascal Flatts ~ Hehehehehehehe.

4. Will you get married?
Holding on for a Hero - Soundtrack from Footloose ~ "A white knight upon a fiery steed." :o)

5. What is you best friend's theme song?
Hakuna Matata - Soundtrack from the Lion King ~ Nice.

6. What is the story of your life?
My Wish - Rascal Flatts ~ Ooooo, chills.

7. What was/is highschool like?
Crush - Lila McCann ~ Hmmm. Intersting. Somewhat relative.

8. How can you get ahead in life?
We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister ~ AHAHAHAHAHA!

9. What is the best thing about your friends?
Favorite State of Mind - Josh Gracin ~ "Crazy, happy, laughin' at me, all that and then some."

10. What is in store for this weekend?
Miss You More - BBMak (Princess Diaries Soundtrack) ~ Well...that's enough to depress me.

11. To describe your grandparents?
Just a Few Questions I Have - Clay Walker

12. How is your life going?
Roots and Wings - James Bonamy ~ Love this song.


13. What song will they play at your funeral?
Ready to Run - Dixie Chicks (Runaway Bride Soundtrack) ~ Um...k.

14. How does the world see you?
Poison - Alice Cooper ~

15. Will you have a happy life?
Your Crowning Glory - Julie Andrews, Princess Diaries II soundtrack ~ Otay...still like the song.

16. What do your friends really think of you?
Dude Looks Like A Lady - Aerosmith ~ Heh.

17. Do people secretly lust after you?
Take Me or Leave Me - Soundtrack from Rent ~ ::snort::

18. How can I make myself happy?
Find Yourself - Brad Paisley

19. What should you do with your life?
Seek and Destroy - Metallica ~ Strange, yet powerful

20. Will you ever have children?
Without You - Soundtrack from Rent ~ "Life goes on, but I'm gone... without you." Hmm...fitting, I suppose.

Boo

LMK and I went to the doctor yesterday. Personally, I can breathe a sigh of relief that LMK is finally getting the health care he needs. With a family history of heart attacks and high blood pressure, I worry/worried about him constantly. We're one step closer to getting him healthier.

Me on the other hand. Meh. It's nothing I didn't already know. Must lose weight. Wait, I take that back. I learned that should I get pregnant, this practice won't "deal with me". Huh?

I don't remember most of what the doctor said. All I could hear was a rushing sound in my ears after she said the phrase, "high risk pregnancy."

Still thinking about that and what I am going to do to change things. I'm not a regular viewer of Ty.ra Banks, but I do like her. I just happened to have this show dvr'd. Maybe I should watch it everyday to keep my will power.

It's nice to have someone sticking up for the "fat" chicks. Truth be told, I've really stuck it to the man. I've decided I will never be skinny, so why bother trying. In fact, let's just go to the other extreme. If I can't be the skinniest person I know, well then, by God, I'm going to be the fattest. Mission accomplished.

Sigh.

Tomorrow, by request, I look at why skinny people make me nervous. It's Self Loathing Week here at Casa Lawn Mower. Pull up some issues and enjoy.

Grrrr

I've been up since 6AM.

We have no heat.

The men that know how to fix our heat aren't in yet.

It's 11° outside.


Update (10 A.M.) : We have heat! It's still cold as heck in here, but it's beginning to warm up. We're up to almost 50 in the living room!

He's a comedian

Instead of watching the new episodes of Lost, LMK and I decided to watch the USA / Mexico friendlies game. We'll watch Lost on a night when LMK isn't zonked and can enjoy it.

Normally, I would be slightly miffed that we watched SOCCER instead of Lost, but the game was actually really good. It was fun to sit with my husband and watch soccer. We even took a page out of The College's men's team. After a really bad call, I couldn't help myself. "Let's boo at the ref! Booooooooooooooooooo" Heh. Maybe you had to be there.

I laughed when LMK yelled, "Albright, you're killin' me." in the second half. I wonder how many times he's said a variation of that on the sidelines for The College. He correctly called who was going to be subbed and where the new players were going. It's actually fun watching the games with him. He loves the game so much it makes those around him enjoy it too.


Finally, he came through with a funny. Please remember, when I married this man he was incredibly serious. Four years spent around my mother seem to doing him some good.


LMK: "A goalkeeper with Tourette's syndrome?..............How can they tell?"

Our Morning

5:39 A.M. - Silence in the Lawn Mower castle. Save for a lone fan whirring on low.

5:40 A.M. - The lone fan's whirring changes. LMQ awakes with the feeling something isn't quite right.

5:41 A.M. - Loud, consistent snores erupt from LMK in his 'Den of Seclusion' (a.k.a. The Loud Room...far away from The Quiet Room where LMQ is sleeping). LMQ rolls over and tries to go back to sleep.

5:45 A.M. - The soft whirring ceases as all power goes out in the castle.

5:46 A.M. - "Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap," says LMQ. "Did we pay our electric bill?" she thinks. She decides to stay in bed until the downstairs clock chimes six. Then she will get up, wake up LMK, and inform him of the situation. It's his birthday afterall. Let him sleep in.

5:51 A.M. - LMQ tiptoes out of bed and checks the neighboring castles for light. She notices that the village seems unusually dark as well. She tiptoes toward the 'Den

5:52 A.M. - En route to the 'Den of Seclusion' LMQ steps on His Royal Highness Ollie's tail and stumbles.

5:53 A.M. - LMQ continues down the hall cursing HRH Ollie as she goes.

5:54 A.M. - LMQ wakes the snoring LMK. He sits straight up in bed exclaiming, "What? What's wrong?"

5:57 A.M. - After briefing LMK on the situation, LMQ is sent back to bed where it is warm and she won't trip over something.

5:58 A.M. - On her way back to bed, LMQ trips over HRH Ollie yet again. She shakes her fist in his general direction before crawling back into bed. LMK is checking the windows to see if other castles are without power.

5:59 A.M. - LMK proceeds carefully down the slippery steps he slipped down over the weekend, while LMQ holds her breath and waits for the sound of him bouncing down the steps.

6:00 A.M. - LMK locates a working flashlight and brings a lighter back upstairs to LMQ. He lights a candle so she has some light in the bedroom. Then, LMK peers out the window uptoward The School to see if they have power. They may not have snow days, but what will they do with no electricity.

6:03 A.M. - LMK confirms that there are no lights at The School and that he starting to see some flashlights bobbing around.

6:10 A.M. - After several minutes of discussion, LMK decides to attempt to shower and get ready for work. After he is dressed in work attire he will walk up to work and see what is going on. He shall report status back to LMQ.

6:34 A.M. - LMK leaves for work. On his way, he takes out the trash. Good LMK.

6:55 A.M. - LMK returns and reports that it must be a county-wide blackout as colleagues from the country are reporting no electricity too. He decides to get something to read and return to the school to see what is going to happen for the day.

6:57 A.M. - LMQ can't help lying in bed thinking, "If I'm going to be in a house with no heat, I should really just stay in bed where it's warm. However, if it's going to get cold, I should really put the flannel sheets on the bed."

6:58 A.M. - LMQ ponders getting out of bed to change the sheets.

6:59 A.M. - LMQ snorts at the thought of getting out of her warm bed.

7:00 A.M. - LMK gets ready to head back to the school. Before he leaves, LMQ calls him into the bedroom for one last message. "Happy Birthday, honey."

Happy birthday.

Yet another

NoVA Observations

#8 - Kids love these Heely things.

I had never seen a pair of these shoes until we moved to NoVA. Now, they're everywhere! I'd like to think that we didn't live in the middle of nowhere when we lived in Ohio. I mean, we could be in Cleveland in under an hour and Columbus in under 3.

Is it me, or are these shoes just the epitome of laziness? You're too lazy to WALK so you roll around on roller shoes. Seriously, you've got to be kidding me.

Evidently, I'm not the only one annoyed by these shoes. Signs are also popping up in all the store windows, "For the safety of our customers, please do not use Heely's in our store."

Check out observations #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7.

You're kidding, right?

Long time readers will remember the fuel oil saga from when LMK and I moved into the new house.

After the new year, we went down to the company to get into the system and establish a budget plan. We discussed the situation with the new accounts woman and decided that instead of beginning the budget plan in January (halfway through their year) and having to pay for a year's worth of oil service in 3 months, over $300 a month, we would hold off on oil delivery until their new budget year started and go from there. She said we should be fine for the rest of the winter and to call if we needed more oil. Fine with me.

Imagine our surprise last week, when the school received a bill for a fuel oil delivery at our house. Um...exsqueeze me? Evidently, the company delivered fuel oil on the only weekday all month where I have been out of the house. Doesn't it just figure. After some calling around we discovered that is has something to do with the school and that these monthly deliveries will continue unless the school tell them not to come. Well...goody! Fine, it's a $150 bill we weren't expecting every month, but I won't have to worry about us running out of heat. We'll survive.

Crisis averted.

Hahaha! Fate, you evil bitch, you were just messing with me, weren't you?

Yesterday morning, I went down to check the mail. I saw a piece of paper stuck into our door. "Interesting," I thought as I pulled it out of the door, "I wonder who is selling what."

No one was selling anything. It was a bill. A bill for a fuel oil delivery.

FROM A DIFFERENT COMPANY!

For more than the last bill! After the lightheadedness passed, I started noticing other things. Like they put in almost 15 gallons more than the company that filled it up on the 18th and that the customer name was not mine, nor was the address. We're in the process of getting it handled...but I'm thinking we've got ANOTHER oil bill to pay.

Never a dull moment, `round here. Never.

Poison Dress...Sheets?

Have you heard the urban legend about the poison dress? I saw Elizabeth where one of her ladies in waiting dies from a dress meant for her.

When we moved into the new house, LMK's mom brought their old sheets for us. They just redid their bedroom and the sheets don't fit their bed anymore. She always gets really expensive sheets with high thread counts. Me, I'm a cheap sheet kinda gal. The cheaper, the better. Anyway, she made our bed with their old sheets when we moved in. We've just been using those sheets. I've washed them several times and just put them back on our bed.

However, I think she's brainwashing/poisoning me with these sheets!

Because last night, I found myself in the basement, IRONING SHEETS!

I hate ironing. I don't iron unless I have to and by have to, I mean gun-to-my-head, have to.

Yum!

I must admit, I've been anti-Rach.ael R.ay. Everythis is JUST! SO! WONDERFUL!

Gag.

Anyway, I put her obnoxiousness aside last week and watched a show where she made a Reuben Loaf. I love reubens and I've been dying for a good one! After watching, I found myself thinking, I could totally make that. The only problem was LMK doesn't like saurkraut and there isn't really a way to make half the loaf sans-kraut. Then it occured to me that I could just make two mini-loaves instead of one big loaf. I didn't go all out and make her special "slaw" and dressing, but I just made a regular old reuben.

It worked out wonderfully! Not only were the reuben loaves delicious, there was enough for us to have it for two nights. Go us!


Last night, I stuck the half loaves in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350. They were even better than the first night. Mmmm...crusty bread. This recipe is definitely a keeper!

He's learning

It occurs to me that I haven't really talked much about LMK's new job. I haven't mentioned the irony in my engineer turned soccer coach husband getting a teaching job before me - you know, the one with an actual degree...IN TEACHING! But that's another story...

First, I love, love, love the school. Love it. Everyone who works there has been so helpful and kind. I hear all the time, "The School is just like a big family, we look out for one another." This is definitely an environment where I can thrive. We've attended three basketball games (2 high school, 1 middle) and have seen the head of the school and his wife at 2 of them. I'm kind of looking forward to football and soccer games in the fall. Wait...did I mention girl's soccer is a spring sport around here? Games start around the first of March. It better be warmer here than in Ohio in March, otherwise, I'm gonna freeze!

Right now, it looks like LMK will be the assistant girl's coach this spring. Then starting in the new school year, he will switch with the boy's head coach - assist for the boy's team in the fall and be the head coach of the girl's in the spring. (Make sense?) It's not exactly what we were hoping for, but it's still coaching and he is thrilled.

All along, I've been extremely lucky to have a husband that, while he didn't always "get" teaching, he didn't belittle it. He knows what a tough job it is. Afterall, the man had a teacher mother. My mom and I would come home with hilarious (to everyone but those who had lived them) "school stories" to tell at dinner. The summer he worked at The Club, he got yet another taste of teaching. Believe me, the stories he came home with were hilarious - to us. Since living with not only his teacher mother, but also living with me near my teacher mother he's learned a lot, second hand, about teaching.

But sometimes, I forget that he has no formal teacher training. I assume he knows certain things about teaching - and you know what happens when you assume. For example:

He decided that the semester final should not hurt his students' grades. They've had a rough semester (more teachers than quarters) and most of them are really worried about their grades. He cleared his idea with the academic dean and proceeded to administer his tests. However, his one mistake was showing students who had taken the test early in the week their grade (with the exam not hurting their grade). Word spread like wildfire and by the third day of exams, he had kids not bothering to complete most of their test because they knew it wouldn't affect their grade. They sat in the back of the class and goofed off. Seriously, if you work two hours on a test - complete only a few problems and get a 30% (with a 9 percentage point curve) there is something wrong.

Teacher Lesson Learned: If you're going to be a nice guy, wait until everyone has finished the exam to let them know you're being a nice guy. Otherwise, they take advantage.

As for classes, I don't understand 99% of what he's teaching. He's basically teaching the math that he helped me squeak through at Tech. So, I know he knows what he's talking about. I've been the student. Now, if only I could get a teaching job, we'd be set.

Dope

I do believe I've topped this summer's *duh, Erin* comment*.

Today, LMK hands me his copy of the evening duty calendar. I immediately started scanning the boxes for the days he is on duty, since I know I won't see him until 9PM those nights. So, on one of the days he has duty, it says:

Scott **
Smith **

Before I can stop myself, I say to LMK, "why do they have your name down as Scott?"

(pause, while LMK starts laughing)

"Oh....you and Ms. Scott have duty on that day. Got it."

Mental head slap.


* This summer, I was looking over the camp roster that LMK got when he was working the soccer camp for The College. It had the coach's name, then the kid's information. Before I could stop myself, I said, "Boy there sure are a lot of (LMK's first name)'s at this camp."

He's still laughing about that one.

** Names changed to protect the innocent.

The little things

Because...
Originally uploaded by h0kieerin.

Is it important to be amused by the little things, thus entertained frequently throughout life or is it better to only laugh at "really funny things"? Is it good to be amused by the little things? I don't know.

However, I'm incredibly entertained by our "new" (to us) refrigerator. I feel like I've seen a number of fridges in my day, but NONE with the handy dandy door within a door.

Right now, we're putting drinks in that compartment because it's really easy to reach in and grab a bottle of water instead of a can of pop.

Go to my flickr page to see what magnets I have on the fridge.

PTPSD* and Me

After LMK was diagnosed with a mental illness, I spent a lot of time learning about the different types of illnesses people deal with every day. There are the "classics" like OCD and d.epression, but there are also less spoken about illnesses like sc.hizophrenia, borderline pe.rsonality disorder, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome).

To date, I have not experienced much mental illness. I have bouts of depression, like most folks, but for the most part - I am lucky. However, after the incident with the rat a little over a week ago I began to experience some PTPSD symptoms.

Three symptoms of PTSD are:

• Re-living the event - Sometimes, if I close my eyes, I can see the whole scene play out again. I can see the thin tail that looked snake-like, until I realized what it was.

• Avoiding reminders - This one was tricky. Since I have a bladder the size a pea, avoiding the "scene of the crime" was incredibly difficult. I found myself running upstairs instead of going back to the downstairs bathroom.

• Being on guard - This one was the more difficult. Most women know what a "hover-er" is. I have never been a hover-er. Now? I perch on my own toilet seat...terrified that a rat is going to sneak up behind...beneath...below on me and bite my tush. I mean, my mother always said, "if you see one mouse, you can bet he has 9 more friends." So logically, I've got 9 more rats to find before I can safely pee in peace.

If what I've experienced is even a tenth of what true PTSD sufferers must endure, then they are truly exceptional people.

* Post Traumatic Potty Stress Disorder

Input, please

I've heard several people talk about trips to C.ostCo. I've never nearby one. We've always had the other club place nearby.

So, to all you expert shoppers, is the $50 membership going to be worth it for our small family of 2?

We don't have a lot of fridge or freezer space (we had a huge stand alone freezer in Ohio), but we have a good size fridge and freezer. Should we hold off a while before getting a membership? Would getting one now save us money?

What do YOU think?

P.S. Gotta love this...

P.P.S. When did this start? I went to one game while at Tech - one when we used to suck. It was nothing like this. I get goose bumps every time I watch this. How long `til football season? Now I want to go to a game!

Still more

NoVA Observation

#7 - Evidently, no shoes and no shirt are a problem `round here.

Everywhere I go there are BIG, BOLD signs proclaiming "No shoes, no shirt, no service." They are not old signs with peeling paint or letters. They're new signs and usually prominently displayed. In Ohio, it's a rule but I can't remember seeing a sign for it in the last few years. It's not on the doors of the Target or the grocery stores we used frequently.

Check out observations #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6.

Yet another

NoVA Observation

#6 - When people say "soda", they actually are talking about "pop".

This isn't really shocking to me, but I had forgotten about this little tidbit since my time at Tech. Head Coach calls everything "soda" (in a great Boston accent) and it makes me giggle every time. This change in lingo doesn't usually cause a giggle fit these days, but it did cause me to spend several minutes at the grocery store last night searching the store directory for the pop aisle. By the time I got to the S's it occured to me that I wanted the soda aisle, not the pop aisle.

Duh.

Check out observations #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5.

One more

NoVa Observations

#5 - My days of ordering unsweetened ice tea at restaurants are over.

First, most of the fast food joints don't have unsweetened tea. They all say "Sweet" on them. What!?

I love iced tea, however I do not like sweetened iced tea. We grew up drinking unsweet tea and water. We seldom had pop in the house and we never had Kool-Aid. Therefore, I don't care for Kool-Aid (but pop is a whole other issue). Even now, when I am in a restaurant (both times) and I order unsweetened ice tea the waitresses look at me like I'm crazy and generally have to go see if they have the stuff. Oy vey.

Check out observations #1, #2, #3, and #4.

Hooray!

I made a new friend!

Carry on!

Porch Party

Ollie had a little porch party Saturday evening. LMK told me about a huge black and white persian he'd seen around our house one morning last week. We've counted about 6 different cats that walk through our yard throughout the day, but I hadn't seen this persian. Seeing as I LOVEpersians, LMK was excited to tell me about this new one that looked like Ollie with Socks' colors.


Well Saturday evening we were watching a movie and I looked out the sliding glass door to see none other than the black and white persian sitting at our window. Ollie was sleeping next to me so I gently put him down on the floor and nudged him toward the window. First, I got the typical crabby face...but then he spotted his new friend. Pretty soon, all we could see was Ollie cat butt.


I couldn't use my flash, so the pictures are blurry, but you get the idea. That is one pretty cat!

Ew ew EW!

The Good

LMK and I went to Large City on Saturday to celebrate his first week of work with dinner at Olive Garden.

Ok. Okay, I'll be honest. We were celebrating, but I wanted to go to Olive Garden, not him. He's a good sport though. The OG in Large City must be new. It's totally different than any I've ever been in before and let me tell you, I've hit a LOT.

It didn't have the rolling chairs with the arms that I hate. It had high vaulted ceilings and a fire place! It was gorgeous! And the food? Superb!

The Great

Then we came home and let the boys out into the sun porch. They had a ball - once the big scaredy cats actually went outside. I can't wait for spring/summer so we can sit out there and enjoy the evening. I'm already planning flowers in my head. ME! Flowers!


The Ew!

We've been having some drainage problems, but since the maintenence men have been here things have been pretty uneventful. After we had gotten everyone inside off the porch, I decided I needed to piddle. So off I went to the downstairs bathroom. As I walked in, I noticed something in the toilet. My first thought was, "great, what did the cats knock into the toilet." Then the "object" registered. It was a rat. A rat!

Ewewewewewewewewew

LMK swears it was dead - at least, I think that's what he was saying as I ran screaming up the stairs with Ollie leading the way.

I pride myself on not being a girly girl. I don't like snakes, but I can handle seeing them. Mice don't bother me either - Hokie loves to catch mice. Spiders? I don't like to crunch them but I'm pretty big and bad when I have a vacuum in my hands.

Rats however, nah uh. No way, no how.

Note

Note to self: If you don't want to run into LMK's students in town, DO NOT go into town on a Friday night. Good gravy!

It's quite weird hearing kids calling him sir. I love it. Mwahahahaha.

Also, I might have forgot to mention yesterday that I have my FIRST Virginia job interview on Thursday. I know I've said this a lot lately, but - "Fingers crossed!"

One last thing, I finally found one of my favorite episodes of Friends on YouTube. Unfortunately the cut the end right in the middle of the best part.

I always end up singing, "Mornings hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" for days after I see it.

I survived!

So the basketball games weren't that bad. Of course, I remember now why I don't care for basketball.

#1 - There's nothing to cheer about. Ideally, one team scores then bam, the other team scores. In sports like soccer, scoring doesn't happen all that often.




Well, except for that one game last season, remember that one, LMK?

#2 - Squeaky shoes. Oh, how I hate squeaky shoes. And please, tell me why some players insist on licking their hands and wiping off the bottom of their shoes. EWW! I don't care if you're able to stick to the ceiling after you've done that - it's gross!

We...well, I also met several of LMK's colleagues/big wig's at the school. Everyone was incredibly nice and friendly. It really does feel like a huge extended family. Personally, I really like a working environment like that. Yes, families have squabbles from time to time, but for the most part, everyone pulls together and takes care of one another. That's how I was raised and I do well in that type of environment. It was definitely NOT the type of working environment LMK and Head Coach had/have at The College. I think even LMK would agree while we miss the girls and Head Coach, we do not miss the working environment.

This afternoon I'm running my application to the town schools. I'm hoping to finish the year out at least subbing (long term subbing would be even better) and then get something permanent for next year. Whether it be here a in Larger City. I'm almost leaning toward Larger City with it's half hour commute because they're getting a new elementary school and I'd LOVE to work in a new school.

We'll see!

P.S. Did everyone see that David Beckham has signed with the L.A. Galaxy, a MLS team? Hopefully this will jumpstart soccer in the U.S. Common........Women's MLS!

Hiding

Well, I've avoided it for two weeks. Today my time hiding from LMK's new colleagues and students is over. Tonight there are basketball games and since going to these things is part of LMK's job, I'm tagging along too. Oh boy.

Honestly, I'm not totally dreading it. Everyone that we've met has been really nice and friendly. Is it wrong that part of me is just waiting for our new-ness to wear off and for them to get not nice and friendly? I mean, seriously, this job and working environment HAS to be too good to be true. Great things like this just don't happen to us. Our lives for the past few years have done but teach me that.

Oh well, I'm going to embrace this new opportunity as a positive one for as long as I can. Otherwise, I'm just a Negative Nellie and who wants to be known as that?

Wish me luck!

Yum

I really should not watch this while I'm hungry. It doesn't help that they replay all the episodes on Wednesday's before the new episode.

Lots of the things that they make I know I wouldn't like, but some of them sound so good. I've even gone and downloaded some of the recipes.

I'm thinking since money is tight for a while that instead of planning all these elaborate meals, I will try one new recipe a week. I think that's fair. It lets me feel creative while not breaking the budget.

Suggestions for next week's new recipe?

Previous tenant

The woman that LMK replaced also lived in this house before we did.

So far, I'm not impressed. I won't even consider her teaching "style" (if you can call passing out worksheets and not actually teaching a style).

First, she told the administration that she had just filled the oil heat tank at the cost of $300. When we arrived it was in the 40s so we kept turning up the heat. Finally, when we were all shivering we called maintenence. The head maintenence man (HMM) came out and discovered we had no heat. As in, there was no oil in our tank.

Greeeeeeeeeeeat.

HMM called the oil company that the school uses (all the building's heating systems are oil based) and they informed him that it was against policy to bring us oil after closing time (5 pm). HMM then called the president of the school.

Bet me we had heat within 45 minutes. I love the president of the school - he seems so nice.

Also, since we've moved in we've had issues with the utility sink in the basement. When I do laundry it drains really slowly (filling all the way up sometimes). Same when we use the dishwasher, flush the downstairs toilet, and new today - shower. LMK put in a work order and the maintenence men showed up today. According to them they snaked 100 feet of.....stuff out of our lines into the main sewer line. All I can say, is ew. Not only that...the basement smells.

Awful.

LMK doesn't know it yet, but we're going out to dinner. I can't eat in this house if it smells like...well...you know. Plus, it will give the place a chance to air out (once I open a window, which I plan to do). Also, must buy Febreeze and 10 gallons of Chlorox.

Another one!

NoVA Observation

#4 - When that light turns green, you better move your ass through the light - NOW!

Never in my life have I heard so much honking! If you aren't moving through the light, you better believe someone is going to bring it to your attention. RIGHT NOW!

That being said, I've never seen so many STUPID drivers especially ones talking on their cell phones while driving. I now remember LMK and I saying NoVA drivers were insance while we were at Tech. Half of the people who get honked at are yammering on their cell phones and distracted from driving. Of course, it makes me very anxious at stop lights because I want to jam my foot on the gas as soon as the light turns green. So far, no one has honked at me, but it's only a matter of time. At that time it will take everything I've got to flip them the bird.

Sorry Mom, it's an instinct.

Check out observations #1, #2, and #3.

National De-Lurking Week

Woohoo! It's National De-Lurking Week again. So if you're out there, lemme know - I'd love to come read you if I don't already.

Thanks to Cyli for letting me know!

NoVA Observation

#3 - People take their dogs everywhere.

Don't get me wrong, people did this in Ohio. However, I have now seen several dogs tied to benches or poles outside public buildings waiting for their masters. Seriously, couldn't Fluffy stay home while you get those few things you need from Big Lots? Wouldn't Fluffy be happier at home, or even in the car?

I always feel sorry for the dogs waiting pathetically for their masters. They always look so sad.

Check out observations #1 and #2.

NoVA Obs

#2 - Ladies and gentlemen, I've found Marlboro Country.

Maybe the new "Smoke Free Ohio" law spoiled me before we left, but smoker's are everywhere down here!

They're smoking in their car in the parking lot, they're smoking as they walk up to stores, they're plotting ways to sneak smoke breaks after they make my lunch, they're smoking outside the store before they go in, and they're lighting up before they even fully exit a building. I'm shocked that all of Northern Virginia isn't covered by the haze of cigarette smoke.

Haven't you heard, people? Smoking is no longer cool. Please stop. My lungs thank you.

See observation #1.

NoVA Observations

#1 - Fellow Hokie sightings are no longer few and far between. Hokies are everywhere!

For the first few days after we arrived, I would excitedly grab Lawn Mower King's arm and exclaim, "Look! A Hokie!" Just as I had done while we lived in Northeast Ohio. Then he would patiently remind me that we are in Virginia now and Hokies are everywhere.

Hmm... good point.

Moving Story v. 1

Where to begin? I don't have very many interesting moving stories, so I suppose I will start with the one I think is best.

Socks is our baby. We got him the summer after we moved to Ohio. He was a barn cat rescue and had always lived at the farm. Hokie and Ollie have moved several times and are somewhat used to it. They don't like it, but they adjust quickly.

So we packed the cats up in their carriers, put them in the car, and took off for Virginia. They were very good on the 6 hour trip down. Socks mewed pitifully several times, but he seemed to settle down and go to sleep. We arrived at our new home uneventfully (thank goodness).

Before we unpacked we brought the boys into the downstairs bathroom and closed the door. The door doesn't latch from the outside so we didn't let them out of the carriers quite yet. For the next two and a half hours we unpacked the truck. Finally, we had enough and decided to stop for the night. Lawn Mower King got a little box and some food and water set up and we opened the doors to the carriers. Hokie shot out to investigate - slinking around corners and generally being nosey (he's just like me). Ollie took a few minutes to actually get out of the carrier, but soon he was off investigating too.

Socks wasn't coming out of his carrier. No way. No how. Everyone can kiss his hairy butt.


Finally at 11 o'clock at night, I forced him out of the carrier and he took off to find somewhere new to hide.

In the morning we had a few more things to unpack so I went into the bathroom with the boys and shut the door. They were still pretty skittish so I opened the cupboard doors for them to explore. Socks spent the rest of the day under the sink in the bathroom. He was not amused by this moving stuff.

Don't worry though. He's adjusting quite well. He's found out that there are squirrels that will laugh at him here as well as in Ohio. And did we mention there are D-O-Gs next door? We must keep an eye on them.

Need I say more

O-hi-where?
Originally uploaded by h0kieerin.

Well? Do I?

A view from the school.

Cabin Fever

Oh thank you, Lord.

I thought I was going to go off the deep end.

Modem mailed late, but arrived today! I'm back.

We're moved in and virtually unpacked. The cats are adjusting, even poor Socks, who was severely traumatized by the move.

I'm off to catch up with all of you. You've been busy!

Stories to come! I'm missed you all.

P.S. Hi Mom!

52 Books in 52 Weeks

Instead of a true New Year's resolutions, I've decided to challenge myself to read 52 books this year.

That really doesn't sound too hard since I love to read and have a book with me at all times. I'm fully expecting this statement to come back and bite me in the tush. Sometimes I go through periods where I don't want to read and therefore, don't. Plus, with the hopes of starting a new job in a new area, I could be otherwise occupied. I am limiting this list of books to actual novels. Chick lit, teen lit, whatever - but no H.arlequin romance novels. The book must have at least 200 pages (I'm trying to stick to this rule). Drat.

We'll see just how attainable this goal is.

I will keep track of the books I've read here as well as on the sidebar of my blog.

To view my current list of books visit me here.

TTFN

LMK is unplugging the modem today so we can return it.

I'll see everyone when we're moved. Won't I have exciting stories to tell then? No, not really.

Have a happy holiday and remainder of the week. Hopefully I'll be back by our anniversary (Saturday).

To one and all

Last few ornaments:

Everyone in the family has one like this.
This is mine. Made by a family friend.

Made for my entire 4th grade class by one of my best friend's mom.

Doesn't everyone have one of these?

Happy Holidays everyone!

Defcon 3

As I told LMK yesterday, I'm starting to panic. Just a little bit. My sanity is hanging by a thread!

It's the same moving issues everyone has. So much to do - no time to do it. Add to that the Christmas season, wanting to spend time with my brother (ok, really just his cats), and my family and my time dwindles even more.

Seventeen times a day I think - "I should be packing right now." But we're either doing last minute shopping, cooking, baking, or just hanging out.

Oh, and I miss Lucy already.

Two more pet ornaments today. We found a lot of my favorite ornaments, including these, here.

Hot Potato

I am currently on a Yes, Dear kick. I go through periods where I love certain shows. There was West Wing, when I couldn't watch enough West Wing. Then there was Friends, when I would watch every one of the 5 episodes on a day. Currently, I love Yes, Dear. I love Anthony Clark. He was in an old show called Boston Common years ago with Traylor Howard and I liked it, too.

So one of the first shows I set to tape when we got dvr was Yes, Dear. It's on twice a day, so each day (or every few days) I'll sit down and watch all my saved shows. Yesterday was the one with the Wiggles.

I've been singing this song ever since...

Woohoo!

I went to the doctor this morning for the last time. Have I mentioned how much I love my doctor? Well, I do. If I could pack her up and take her with me, you better believe I would.

Blood pressure was finally normal. LMK and I were shocked considering the stress we're both under.

And...

AND! I've lost 16 pounds. Look at me! Light as a feather...well, a cement feather. Working every day seems to be good for me. I've been eating junk for two and a half weeks, but apparently, it's working. Hopefully the loss will continue into 2007.

Today's ornament - the required teacher apple. It also counts because my aunt and uncle used to have an apple orchard (gone as of this year) so appleas are a staple around here. I love this one because it's a bell and it's shiny. I love shiny.

Water Risk

I almost cried at school today.

I knew I'd be a water risk anyway, but I held it together ALL DAY LONG...until tutoring after school. That's when all the teachers who weren't tutoring were leaving. Hugging me goodbye and wishing me good luck. I'm so lucky to have spent as much time at that school as I have. I know part of it is I'm my mother's daughter - but another part of it is me. They appreciate what I've done/do to help them.

It's nice to be appreciated.

It's going to be strange not going to this school ever again (ok, I may still visit, but you know what I mean). It will be strange not to know how the kids are doing. Even though I know things will go on and that everyone will be fine - I'd like to think they'll miss me. You know what, that is just want I'm going to do. Believe they'll miss me.

`Cuz I sure will miss them.

Ornament of the Day: One of Lulu's ornaments

Percentages

Most of the time, I am excited about our upcoming move. Let's say...75% of the time.

Some of the time, I am overwhelmed and nervous about our upcoming move...15%

Then there are the times - like at Little Brother's graduation dinner where I was able to sit around a dinner table with my entire family (and my brother's girlfriend and her dad) or last night on the phone with Twin and I feel sad. I remind myself that it isn't like we're dying. We can always come back and visit.

But it won't be the same.

I feel like one of those cheesy recipes people write.

75% excited
15% overwhelmed/terrified
10% sad
100% moving

Now, LMK will read this and he'll ask me if I want to move. Well. No, I don't want to move. But I think moving is the best option for us. Sometimes the end justifies the means. Tonight, I just miss my family, my friends, and the school system - though it hasn't treated me well - where I got my "start" teaching.

Change is scary and it's hard, but we're going to make it. Of that, I've never been more sure.

This evening...ornaments of the boys.

Shenanigans

Well, my brother is a college graduate! Congratulations Little Brother!


And unlike me he graduated with honors! Me? I was just lucky to graduate.

We went to Toledo this weekend to attend his graduation. The morning graduation (with the entire university) wasn't too bad. The seats were comfortable and even though it was a little over two hours, I've sat through worse. The engineering graduation ceremony was awful. Aw-ful. First, my tush didn't fit in the seat so I spent the entire almost three hour ceremony wiggling. Left cheek. Right cheek. Middle. Left cheek. Right cheek. Middle.

Oh, it was horrible.

Then....THEN! We return home to evidence of kitty shenanigans:

Somehow, Socks had gotten some stray packing tape stuck to his whiskers. Poor guy! LMK got it off, but there was a whisker casualty.


Notice LMK in the background comforting Socks. Poor kitty. He was not amused.

Oy vey

Or "the day full of things to get the Lawn Mower Queen fired."

Thursday is mentor day in the classroom I am currently teaching. Mentors are adults who come in once a week and read with the kids. Sometimes they play games, one woman actually teaches the kids (something tells me she was a former teacher), and generally the kids get to interact with adults who aren't their parents. The most consistent mentors are, of course, senior citizens. It's really neat to watch. The kids are so polite and they love their mentors. The mentors love being around the kids.

But some days? Some days I wonder just how much has changed since they were in school.

The following four things happened between 1 and 3, when the mentors are visiting.

• Two of the mentors brought Christmas gifts for the kids. Apparently there's a hullabaloo with the classroom teachers about "my" kids getting stuff that the rest of the class doesn't get. While I understand...tough noogies. The teacher I'm in for usually leaves the stuff in the library and gives it to kids as they leave the building at night. Uh. No. I sent it back with the kids and told them to put it directly into their bookbags. If there's a problem, hey, I'm "just a sub."

• After passing out the gift bags, the mentor told the children not to get the bags out on the bus because (and I quote) "there are bigger, meaner kids on the bus than you and they may take your bag." WHAT!? Good gravy. Not that it bothers me because, I'm "just a sub."
  

• Another mentor brought his mandolin and played Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bells with the kids. Unfortunately, the first class ran long so to fill time we had to sing another song. He only knew Away in a Manger. Think of the lyrics to that one - definitely school appropriate. But hey, I'm "just a sub."
  

• Meanwhile, during mentoring a student experienced a coughing fit. I sent him to the drinking fountain and he seemed to be ok. He was really ok when his mentor gave him a cough drop*! Hey, I'm "just a sub."
  

It looks like I may end up working the three days next week too. It's really no big deal - I'm completely and totally overwhelmed by packing at this point nothing seems to phase me. I have to be there anyway for afterschool tutoring. Might as well make some more money (and it's the good rate too, five extra dollars a day since I've been there more than five days - woohoo).

Tonight's ornament is one I picked up last year. Not only is it a soccer playing Santa, but Santa's is in LMK's high school colors and sporting his high school jersey number. How could I resist?

* We are expressly forbidden to give kids cough drops because they are technically medicine. Parents must sent a note with them to school if the kid has them.

The King

Let me tell you about The King. No, not Elvis. The Lawn Mower King.

We're both really excited about moving, but I'm also not excited. I love my family and I love living next door to them. I'm really going to miss them when we go (even though some of them are leaving in May). However, another large part of moving is leaving this house.

The rational part of me says, "its just a house." A bigger part of me is in love with this house. It was my grandparents house. The clock on the mantle has been there for as long as I've been alive. I have clear memories of sitting at the tiny kitchen table, on a step stool, drinking milk that Grandpa had put a tablespoon of coffee in (so I could drink coffee too). Sometimes, when we walk in the door - I get a wiff of Grandma and Grandpa's house. I love this house.

So, Sunday evening while packing a box I started getting teary. Next thing I know, I'm crying. LMK did what husbands are supposed to do and even offered to decline the job. Whatever it takes for me to be happy. He's going out of his way to make this transition as easy for me as possible - even though it's tough for him too.

It's times like these I'm so thankful for everything we've been through. We've conquered a life shattering mental illness together...everything else - it's gravy. Today (and every day) I'm grateful for my husband.

Tonight's ornament - our first Christmas. (I blacked out our faces.)

Starry eyed

We're moving in 2 weeks! Oh. my. goodness. That thought crosses my mind at least 700 times a day.

Tonight I am printing pictures so I can finish ornaments for my cousin (a paying customer).

I also haven't packed a box this evening - and it's almost my bedtime!

Ack!

Now for the ornament. Tonight's is a handmade paper star. My mom used to make them every year with her kids (before NCLB and other high stakes tests).

They would fold them up, dip them in wax, and sprinkle them with glitter. I have several of these in all different colors.

Like a chicken

I'm running around trying to focus. I swear. I want and need to go in seventeen directions at once. It's just not working. Tonight, I am going to make blackberry jam. Is it a necessity for me to make jam before we move? Not really, but I can't take the blackberries with us and I want to use up as many of them as I can before then.

In other news, while the tutoring kids were working on the computer tonight one of them got the following task: "Write three things you like about trees."

All I could think of was the episode from Friends where they lose the apartment. "We were looking for leafy, LEAFY."



Check around the 2:05 mark. You'll see what I mean.

I leave you with ornament pictures.

The first is a clarinet. I played clarinet in high school. Pretty self-explanitory. (Please ignore Ollie snoozing in the background) This one is always getting lost on the tree because it's clear glass. I stumbled upon it last year accidentally and it didn't get chucked out with the tree.

The second is one of those bells that looks like a snowman, only it's hat looks like a soccer ball. It's a soccer snowman. I like to think of him as my soccer coach snowman. I'm weird that way.

Trust me people...there will be some repeating themes.

Bad blogger

Mmmk. So, the excitement is wearing off and the sheer enormity of what we are planning to do is becoming clearer and clearer.

We're moving! In three frickin' weeks!

Holy hell.

This week has just been an emotional roller coaster. Up, down, round the corner, up, down. Add to the fact that this is the worst possible week of the month to mess with me and it's been quite interesting. Lists are just about the only thing keeping me sane lately. I need lists. Lists of lists of lists. They're comforting.

We're not putting up any Christmas decorations. Frankly, I don't want to have to rush around putting them away the day after Christmas so we can move. It's weird not having a tree and putting away the decorations, but there's always next year. We'll be decorating our house in Virginia next year - which is exciting, yet terrifying. Maybe, in my spare time (ha!), I will get out a few of my favorites, snap a couple pictures, and put them here. Won't that be festive?

We've decided that Lucy is going to stay with my parents until the summer.

First, because we don't have a way to safely get her from Ohio to Virginia. I can't keep her safe and away from Hokie, Socks, and Ollie while driving and I will not allow her to ride in a moving truck with the Lawn Mower King while he drives an unfamiliar vehicle over unfamiliar roads, one of which being 81. It's not safe for us or her.

She's also staying because I am giving myself an ulcer worrying about her barking. Lucy is beagle. She barks. Luckily, she's not like LMK's dog, Hoss, who howls just because he likes to hear the sound of his own voice. Lucy only barks when she's angry. Lucy only gets angry when she's not getting the attention she believes she deserves. She barks at people walking by, other animals, or us if we're not coming to play with her. Add to this that we're moving to the "city" with close neighbors (one of which being LMK's new boss) and I just don't want to put that kind of pressure on her or on us. She'll be just as happy staying in her own house at my parents where she can go for rides with my dad and help my mom cook dinner than she will being forced into silence or penned in. Either way...I'm just sick about it. I'm going miss her so much.

There's so much more I could say, but I'm not going to right now.

Well, we need to go call the grocery store to get some boxes. We're probably going to end up looking like a couple of drunks moving in with all our liquor boxes. But hey, they're free!

Woohoo!

He got offered the job!

Soooo....

We're moving to NoVa! We're moving to NoVa! (That's the scary part.)

I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm thrilled. I'm terrified. I'm overwhelmed.

In even better news, my cousin/partner in crime/best friend has a cousin in a larger city near where we're moving (just a few minutes up 81) and she may be able to help me find a job. Maybe not for the spring semester, but they're getting a new school and there will probably be some openings there in the fall. Hello!? New school? Count me in!


Hot diggity dog!

Happy dance

Ho ho ho

I love this time of year with little children. They still (for the most part) believe in Santa.

I had the following conversation with a 2nd grade girl today.

Girl: "I know Santa's favorite cookie."
Me: "Oh, really?"
Girl: "Yep, he likes sugar cookies. I know `cuz he wrote me a letter."
Me: "Oh?"
Girl: "Yeah. My cousin has a piece of his suit. He tore it on the fireplace and my other cousin, she has a bell from Santa's sleigh. That's all I want for Christmas this year, a bell from Santa's sleigh."
Me: "Well, make sure you put that in your letter, so he knows. You must be pretty special to have gotten a letter from Santa."

Ahhh, the magic of Christmas.

Oh, and I found this site today. Go check and see if you're on the Naughty or Nice list. It was actually surprising accurate.

The Waiting Game

We're on pins and needles over here, people. PINS AND NEEDLES! Nothing today regarding Lawn Mower King's interview this weekend. Well, I guess that isn't entirely truthful. He had a fifteen minute converstation with the head of the math department. Whether that's good or bad, we have no clue. He said they want to make a decision before the dean gets back from vacation (end of the week). We're hoping it will be tomorrow like the head of the school said. You haven't uncrossed anything yet, have you?

I did find out that the town we may be moving to (knock on wood) does offer a "relocation packet". I'm forcing myself to wait to request one until we actually decide to move there. But! How helpful! Gotta love those Virginians.

I began my two week job as a Title 1 teacher. I love the woman I'm subbing for. She left me a present! How sweet is that? She had surgery today and cannot be around kids for at least two weeks (totally understandable - they cough and sneeze all over you). When I went in so she could show me where everything was she kept saying things like, "Here are the reading take home books for the rest of the year -- just in case I never come back." WHAT!?

However, I do not love her schedule. She has bus duty twice a day. Did I mention it was only 20 degrees today? They don't make appropriate school clothes that warm. Brrrrr!

Good, good, good, good vibrations

LMK and I really want him to get this job. Reallllly. He's pretty shocked because I am just as excited about it as he is. Me! The person who only months ago would totally shut down at the idea of a move.

Where do I begin?

The hotel. The school put us up in a Hampton Inn. I'm a simple girl, really. I don't need a big fancy hotel room. Holy heck, they've "redone" the Hampton Inns. They're wonderful! Even Twin would approve because their linens are laundered every day. I loved, loved, loved the comforter....excuse me, duvet. It was so fluffly that you sink into it and oh brother, was it warm. I definitely need one of those.


The school. It's beautiful! It sits over one hundred acres on the highest point in town. You can see everything! Everyone we met at the school is so nice. The head of the school was really great. Since it is a boarding school, LMK would have a lot more responsibilities than a regular teachining position. We're both ok with that.

(view from one side of the school)

The housing. The school provides houses for their staff to use should they need somewhere to stay. The only thing they have currently available is a four bedroom house, with a porch, fenced in backyard, sunroom, garage, and wood burning fireplace in the living room. The backyard was the selling point. It means we can bring Lucy with us. I was really concerned about where she was going to live if we move. (I got a little sniffly on the way home because I was so relieved) Even though it isn't rent free, we saw the same house (4 bedroom, backyard, etc) adveertised in the rental book we picked up for twice the price. It's definitely a deal!

Please, everyone keep your fingers, toes, eyes, etc crossed for us, send good karma, keep us in your prayers - whatever you believe. We should know something by Tuesday. While you're crossing/praying, think of me and hope that I can pick up a job in town too. That would make this move truly perfect.

We're home

12 hours in a car over the span of 36 hours is a hell of a lot of time just sitting on your ass.

The rental car was a wonderful idea - they even upgraded us to the "Luxury" car (a Toyota Sonata) and other than the seat belt biting into my hip after hour 5 it wasn't too bad. I spent a lot of time telling LMK : "The pretty car likes to go FAST!" Mwahahahaha.

I'm zonked, but tomorrow, TOMORROW I will tell all about LMK's interview.

Fingers crossed, people, FINGERS CROSSED!