Come to Mama!

This little gem has officially joined my camera family... well, in 3-6 business days, anyway!

Detail

Remember when I ranted about my old apartment complex wanting me to pre-pay my rent through the end of my lease term? Well, I had my very own Nancy Drew (aka Cori) go investigate and see if anyone was living in my old apartment. And what do you know? I was so happy to hear those voicemails and EQUALLY as happy that I hadn't written them that check! So, hopefully that's done with. I haven't heard anything else from them.

Thank the Lord for small favors. That money will now go towards a down payment on a new, economically friendly car. Blah. I hate the thought of being a CAR owner, but I'll live. It's the smart thing to do and sometimes being a grown up means not always getting what you WANT, but getting what makes sense.

Right?

What do you think?

Five things to my right:

1. Canned air
2. Brandon Rhyder ticket stub from Saturday night
3. BLISTEX (regular flavor, thankyouverymuch)
4. My beloved iPod
5. Nick & Allison koozie

Five things to my left:

1. Nasonex
2. Keys
3. Work Badge
4. Sundance box
5. DSW receipt

Five things behind me:

1. Chair
2. Sera-soft blankie
3. TV, blah, blah
4. Loveseat
5. Empty water bottle

Five things in front of me:

1. Monitor (duh.)
2. Keyboard (double duh.)
3. My hands
4. My nose
5. The rest of my life

Yes, I'm a dork, but I'm also bored. Wednesday night strike tv blows. I'm looking very forward to going to sleep early, but at this moment, I'm not tired enough (which my boyfriend would find impossible to believe). What's new with me? Well, I can't tell you just yet. And other than what I can't tell you- absolutely nothing. And, before you get your panties in a wad, what I can't tell you is nothing to tell anyway! Yet...

R is for REDNECK...

... or maybe RECYCLE?

(click to enlarge photo)

Credit to C for this little gem...

heart talk

I'm taking chances and weighing risks... love isn't something you can just quit, and as long as there is a chance that I might get to spend the rest of my life with her, well I'll take that chance.

I got an email from a friend this morning and that was the first line. Talk about making me catch my breath.. I can't put into words how closely this resembles my heart. Nothing is perfect, but there is such a thing as happy and that is all I can ever hope to maintain. It takes a lot of work so as to not upset the delicate balance. It takes smiling when you don't want to smile and laughing when you don't feel like laughing and loving when all you want to do is sleep. My thought is, if it makes him happy and doesn't make me miserable, it's worth it.

Usually when we're ending a phone call, I make a point to say "I love you." I never drop the "I" because to me, it's important. It's not casual, to me. It's something I mean every single time and I want to say it as such. Whether he recognizes it or not, at least I know that I told him. It used to bother me that sometimes he rolls "love you" and "bye" into one word- sort of like, "loveyoubye", but it doesn't anymore. In fact, it makes me smile.. that's my guy.

As long as there's the chance I'll be lucky enough to spend the rest of my life with him, telling him "I love him", making him smile, well, I'll take that chance.

Little pink dress, hanging by her knees...

• I am a self proclaimed addict to Oprah & Friends, XM channel 156. Yesterday, I bought three books I'd heard about while listening and wanted a fourth which was not in stock. They were:
  
  
  The last one is the one I didn't get, but sounds really interesting. Basically the authors looked at restaurant foods and found an alternative which had a LOT fewer calories. For example: A 6" personal pan Uno's Pizzaria pizza was equivalent to 18 slices of a Domino's thin crust cheese pizza. Anyway, it's on my list.
• C & I are trying desperately to eat better. He's obsessed about his teeny tiny little belly and is convinced it's heart attack fat that will eventually kill him. Trouble is, he doesn't lose weight there- he loses weight in the already skinny rest of his body! We bought matching digital scales, so we are now among the weight obsessed. I haven't owned a scale since I moved out at the age of 18. Ugh.
• I'm slowly but surely adding worth to my office. This week, I threw myself into building (and learning) an Access query. It took an inordinate amount of time, but I think I've managed to produce a quality product. Yes, it's Thursday and I started on it Monday afternoon. So?
• I wish I would have been in Steamboat. While I was at work waiting for 5:00, the Musicfest'ers were choosing what show to go to at 3:00. It's a rough life. At least I've gotten to live vicariously through a few calls and texts-- and the XM broadcasts! Hallelujah! I sure hope someone recorded them.
• I'm expecting my new down comforter to arrive Monday. I originally ordered it the Sunday before NYE after we bought C one at Kohl's in Shreveport. I loved his and he wanted to get me one, too. So, I ordered it and waited. And waited. And then Tuesday, I got an email saying my order had been cancelled due to product availability. I called last night and wouldn't you know they had "a ton" of them-- but they weren't as deeply discounted as the price I had originally gotten. My theory is that they didn't want to honor the price which was $30 less than it is now-- but the helpful representative reordered it for me and gave me the original price-- and sent it priority air with no shipping fees. Score!
• Speaking of honor. My old apartment complex in Dallas-- you know the one. The one where I broke my lease to move to Tyler for a job? On 12/28, I got a letter/statement from them saying my account was past due and that someone from collections would be contacting me to retrieve the $3,400 I owed them. You read correctly. They want me to pay for all rent through March when my lease was originally scheduled to expire. Now, I've already paid them a "reletting fee" and paid back all of the "concessions" (discounts) I received during the current lease period. On top of that, now I'm allegedly responsible for rent, too. Now tell me, what sense does that make? If I knew it was going to cost me this much, I would have just kept the apartment!! I've tried to call them twice to discuss it since the corporate office knows nothing about it-- odd, don't you think? I also find it odd that the letter was sent on 12/21 but so far, no one has called me or sent me another notice. I'll pay whatever I owe, but don't think for a second I'm not going to send a friend down to knock on the door and see if the apartment has been leased!
• I have jury duty on Monday. I'm hope it's cancelled, but a day off wouldn't be awful either!

Some poeple don't care if they live or they die
Some people want to know what it feels like to fly
They gather their courage and they give it a try
And fall under the wheels of the time going by - Trapeze, Patty Griffin

Reality

I finally have time to post and I'm feeling very uninspired. It's FREEZING (literally) outside, there's nothing on tv and I'm not in a good mood.

We made a mad dash to Ft. Worth for NYE and saw Josh Grider and Walt Wilkins. C, of all people, ran into people he knew there. I found Heather her future husband, too... maybe I can get them together soon.

I've got Jury Duty in a week or so. I hope it gets cancelled, but at the same time, it's a day off work. I got a traffic light ticket in the mail a couple of weeks ago. My picture was taken "running a red light" on the day before I left Dallas. Yippee. Watch those cameras, people.

I got very spoiled to only having to work half a day between Christmas Eve and New Years Day. Niiiice. Speaking of Christmas, it was a good one, but I'm equally as glad that it's over. It's the first time I've really felt that way, but I was so glad when the last present was opened! C & I got to spend a LOT of time together, too. He and I were both off at the same time and it spoiled me into thinking what it might be like someday. Iffin'

I wish life was as easy as it appears on tv. Or, maybe there should actually be a show based on real life. Real problems. Real fights. Real make up. Real desire. Real love. Really real.

May your days be merry and bright...

Spend time with your family- even if you don't like 'em.
Remember the soldiers- both near and far.
Remember those less fortunate than us. And believe me, if you're reading this, you ARE blessed.
Eat your mother's stuffing, even if it's awful.
Be gracious.
Be kind.
Be thankful.
Be happy.
Be peaceful.
Be merry.

Six shopping days left!

I don't know about y'all, but I am feeling some stress about finishing my Christmas shopping! With all the back and forth to C's house combined with the fact that he doesn't like shopping- well, I just haven't had time to get much at actual stores. Thank goodness for online shopping.

Some of you got an urgent email with a plea for a yummy dessert recipe. I got roped into participating in the dessert contest which is tomorrow. The only problem is that I have NEVER MADE A DESSERT! Sure, I've baked cookies, but they were never amazing. I got lots of yummy suggestions and managed to narrow it down to the Better Than Sex Cake. I made a practice one over the weekend and tested it on C's family and they approved. His grumpy dad even had two helpings! I know it's a bit over the top to "practice", but I'm the new girl and I have a reputation to establish!! I'll letcha know how I fare..

We're also having a potluck tomorrow and receiving hams. I'm bringing a seven layer dip and some chips. I've never gotten a ham before and have already told my mother it's coming straight to her house!

If you get a chance, visit the Clubhouse Concerts website and make a donation to help Miss Joni and the girls with their overhead. Better yet, find them a new sponsor! For those of you not in the know, Miss Joni started having Sunday night acoustic shows in the clubhouse of her apartment complex SEVERAL years ago. Now it's a regular event in the Stockyard's. They recently lost their sponsor that allowed them to pay for artist's rooms and the sound guy. So, if you've got an extra dollar, send it their way.

Chicago was fun and fast. Our flight was delayed about an hour leaving Dallas, but we had no other travel issues. The weather was clear in Chicago and plenty cold. They ain't kidding about it being the "Windy City"! Even though it was about the same temperature when we landed in Dallas, that blow-right-through-you wind wasn't.

C & I went to see Reckless Kelly last weekend here in Tyler at a bar called Bootlegger's. It's a new venue for the area and is a converted strip club. You couldn't see any remnants, however. It's no Adair's, but I look forward to catching more of OKOM there.

Lately, there has been a lot of prayer requests come my way. One for a friend's beautiful daughter and one for a friend's father. The Lord answers prayers and miracles happen every day. Tumors and broken hearts- that's what has been on my mind lately. Odd combination, no?

My heart is wonderfully whole and full. I am blessed beyond measure and am eternally thankful for all that I have. My friends, my family, my love-- top notch, I tell ya.

Top notch.

I know, I know

I've been slacking. But, I've also been busy, ya know?! I'm headed to Chicago this afternoon, so I will try and update once I return. For now, here's a picture C sent me from the golf course yesterday. In the comments, post your caption!

Hello Internet, good to see ya. It's been a long time....

I apologize for the delay. It seems the "new" AT&T was finally able to pull their heads out of their asses and get me connected. It's amazing how much you can miss something once it's gone. And by gone, I mean, GONE. So, where was I?

• Thanksgiving, aka Move Day 2007, was hell. At one point, I was sitting in a carwash bay on the side of I-20 praying for the Lord to show me something to be thankful for, which he ultimately did. Out 2.5hr trip from Dallas to Tyler, ended up being about a seven hour trip to C's carport. Maybe you saw the Cowboy's game on Thanksgiving day-- remember the snow? That's about the time we were ready to leave my apartment. The snow turned to sleet which turned to rain that lasted our entire trip. We bought tarps three different times but each time they came apart and were left on the side of various highways. I cried out of frustration to my mom over all of my belongings being ruined. But, just like He always does, the Lord heard my worries. Not one thing was ruined in the move. Hallelujah!
• I started work last Monday and I'm still lost as a goose, but I suppose that is to be expected. I really like my boss and the other ladies I work with and I look forward to the day I actually understand what it is I'm supposed to be doing.
• My drive is about 30 minutes, one way. Believe it or not, I actually like it because it gives me time to prepare for, and then decompress from my day. I get some good XM time in, too.
• For the first time in my life, I don't have to fill out a timesheet or justify my time. Finally, I am being treated like I really am in an exempt position! As long as my work is getting done, they're very flexible. It's the little things, people.
• I still don't have cable, which is a whole 'nother issue. I refuse to pay $75 a month for something I rarely watch. So, C has a plan with a spare Direct TV box he has-- we'll see if that works out. I can live with or without just about anything for six months.
• I'm an hour and a half away from C. I can't begin to tell you how great that is. We've had dinner together and sleep overs and even there and back evening visits. Last Friday, I was in my bosses office and it was pushing 5:00 and I was already anxious to get on the road. Then I realized I didn't have to fight rush hour traffic or the interstate or have the pedal to the metal for three hours. Just a winding trip east and I'm there. Give it time though, I'll soon be bitching about the "long drive".
• Gas, however, is not. The petro kind, of course. I'm already thinking about downsizing to *gulp* a CAR. Maybe something crazy like a Mini Cooper even! But, Yukon, how I love thee. We'll see.
• My apartment is pretty sad. I took my sister's awful, uncomfortable couch to my mom's so she can have it back. So, the contents of my living room include my recliner, a coffee table, an end table and an entertainment center. C's supposed to let me borrow his loveseat, though.
• Note to visitors, even though I have two bedrooms, the second bedroom is not fully functional at this time. It is a very nice sized closet though.. :) Seriously, though. My lease is only six months long and no one "visits" Tyler.
• I'm blocked on Myspace, Perez Hilton, Galleywinter and a lot of other sites probably at work. I can't see YouTube or some pictures either. I thought they were going to block my from my email, but that was enabled the next day. The temporary block was probably meant as a warning. And, to make matters worse, I have ZERO cell signal in my office. So, if you need me, and it's urgent and you don't have my work email or number- find someone who does.
• I need a haircut. And Campisi's. And some Brandon Rhyder and Walt Wilkins acoustic.
• I think I'm getting sick, or at least developing a nice sinus infection. I know I have insurance, the HR guy just hasn't had a chance to tell me anything about it or when I can expect an insurance card.
• A sinus infection should travel nicely, since I'm going to Chicago next Wednesday for a day of training on Thursday. O'Hare, people. I've heard the horror stories. And, let's not forget, Chicago. In December. *burrrr* But, it is Christmas time.. I just wish we were going to actually be in the city. We're going to be at a campus about 45 minutes north- bummer.
• C has been keeping Shiner. Yes, I paid a $300 non-refundable pet deposit only for C to say he doesn't like the looks of my neighbors and doesn't want me out after dark walking him. Plus, if C and I are going to one day cohabitate, Shiner has GOT to get used to him and get over being such a mama's boy. He's being such a good boy though and I miss him.
• I miss my friends. I have none here. No one to grab a beer with after work. No one to have lunch with- I've been eating at my desk. But, I guess those are the sacrifices I made.. and I really am happy where I am.

So, there you have it. I'm sure I left things out, so I'll try to be more timely about updating. Twenty shopping days 'til Christmas-- wow.

Taking a break...

I've been drinking. It seems that's the only way to calm my nerves this week. I was reduced to tears earlier and my poor boyfriend could only say incredulously, "All you can do is start packing. Start in one room with one box. It's not that hard." Bless his heart..

It's amazing that something as simple as moving can stress me out this badly. I did secure housing today though. It's a townhouse - just two levels, no garage. One and half baths and two bedrooms for $112 less than I'm paying now. Incredible. Remind me to send out my new address.

I bought myself my first piece of hunting attire today, too. A pair of camo insulated overalls since hunting should be kinda cool this weekend. Woodrow, since you're the only one who probably cares, Clint and I sat in the box stand on my 40 acres twice last weekend. I got permission to bring my ipod because I just bought an Eddie Rabbitt Greatest Hits album that he wanted to jam to, too. Saturday evening, he killed a doe- the next to the last "doe day". It was very exciting. My first time "hunting" (even though I wasn't carrying a gun) and we killed something! We even had to track her about 20 yards into the woods after dark. I was so proud of my baby! Sunday, we went to the same stand not expecting to see a thing. Of course we had some beer and after a couple, I announced (very quietly) that I needed to pee. I quickly followed it up with "I can hold it though." He insisted that I go because we were far enough from dark that nothing was going to come out yet. Ha! There I was, squatted with my pants around my knees behind the stand when I hear, "Don't move." There was another dumb ass doe who came marching out for the corn. She came from the same damn place her sista died the night before. So much for animal insticts. C didn't want to shoot her and she let me get all the way back into the stand before she ran and took all her friends with her. Two deer in two days.. I've got pretty good odds thus far.

I'm moving on Thanksgiving day. Usually, I'd be at my mom's eating dry turkey and ham, followed up by a slice of pecan pie. This year, C and I will find an open restaurant and let someone else cook for us. Have I mentioned lately how much I love him? I am so incredibly thankful..

Which reminds me. I have some fabulous friends. I don't require a lot of up-keep, that's no secret. But sweet emails, texts and comments on my blog & Myspace mean the world. Comments that let me know you're thinking of me-- comments that couldn't come at better time, since I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown these days. I am so incredibly thankful and blessed to have each of you in my life- and you know who you are. My prayer of Thanks will be for each of you this year.

Speaking of, prayer is a wonderful thing which I need to do much more of. Finding a good church is on my to-do list. So is losing this extra weight. Hmm.. maybe I'm on to something. A church/gym? Now that's what I'm talkin' about.

Phase two.. Complete.

Phase two of operation Life Change is complete. Today is my last day with the big Ernst & Young. It's good to leave on a high note, I hear. I worry about my boss being stressed out with having to deal with an inexperienced team, but that's what she gets paid for, I guess. I worry about my team members who don't know how to deal with my boss and who are intimidated by her moods. I worry about the fate of my little team without me.. not that they can't function without me, just that they won't thrive. My boss will be in meetings and they will be left to flounder and then they will receiver her wrath when she finally reviews their work. Oh well. Nothing I can do about it now.

I've been packing all week.. a little at a time. C and I plan to move me next week sometime. I've found an apartment in Tyler that I want to look at, but it won't be available until mid-December which means I'll either be staying at a motel or I'll be doing a lot of driving... probably both. I'm not looking forward to any of it, but I'll live. I'm just ready to be settled, but it'll be a while until that happens.

Monday is C's birthday. Since he didn't get me anything for our anniversary (besides our Austin trip), he's calling his guitar his birthday present. So, all he's getting on Monday is a card and some t-shirts from the Gap. I'm going to his house today and we're going to hunt all weekend. He's built two box stands and put them on two different properties, so we've even got some variety. I've never been hunting before, so I'm excited to go with him, especially since he loves it so much. I'm not buying a license, I'm just going to sit with him. Are i-pods allowed?

I can't believe it's already Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for.. I'll be thinkin' on it for another post.. especially since I'm so boring these days. I would like to say thank you to my wonderful friends for all of the kind words of encouragement and for their time and laughter and letting me vent through this stressful process. Friends are such a blessing.

So, happy Friday everyone. Happy last day of EY to me. Happy future.

Y'all come back now, ya hear?

I was going to give you a real (boring) update post, but I'm tired. I've been working on a project that I brought home from work and I'm tired of it. I'm tired of sitting in this uncomfortable chair listening to the CMA awards because nothing else is on.

I haven't found anywhere to live. I got really excited about one today, but as C said, "It didn't favor much".. unless a crack shack counts. I'm getting extremely stressed out at the thought that I'm supposed to move next weekend and have no where to move to. I think I'm just going to have to end up getting an apartment and we'll keep looking for a rent house. Neither of us likes that idea, but for now, it's the only option we have. Unless I wanted to drive an hour and twenty minutes one way from his house. Nothankyou.

So, there's an update. I'm just tired. And stressed the eff out. Someday, I'll get back to writing real stuff. Or maybe I won't.

Holy crap, there's Rascal Flatts and Jamie Fox! What in the blue hell?