My First Week at the New Job

My 4 month respite of being unemployed and scared of future job opportunities is FINALLY over!  Yesterday ended my first week at my new job!  It feels incredibly amazing, I can't even lie.

How am I feeling you may ask?  Overwhelmed, elated, nervous, excited, challenged, humbled, and flattered.

I don't have much Excel experience and yet they hired me...knowing this and knowing how much Excel is used for my position.  I have no working knowledge of sales or insurance and yet they hired me...knowing this and knowing how much this is needed for my position.  They have high expectations.  So do I.

I am so thrilled about this!  I have come into an office at the beginning of a new year where I can learn so much and have time to do it.  Our office is getting a pretty large re-vamping from what I understand so I'm glad I'll get to be a part of that.

One week down.

SUCCESS!

My NEW Routine

Since I've lost my job, my daily routine has been a bit different.

Normally, when I had a job and a much busier school schedule, Saturdays were reserved for my main relaxation and cleaning...

But now that I have no job and my school schedule is drastically lighter, here's what I find my routine turning to:

1-Wake up, start coffee.
2-Feed dog, take dog out.
3-LOOK FOR/APPLY TO JOBS.
4-Check news, social media, blogs, etc.
5-Read.
6-Repeat. EVERY. DAY.
(granted some days vary when I have my GA work to do but even still...it's not dramatic)

How D-U-L-L.  Well-maybe not for some-but it is to me.  I'm starting the 12th week of being unemployed and I am going crazy!  When this first happened my mom suggested: "Why don't you work on the projects you normally wouldn't have time to?  Re-organize your closet, clean out the kitchen, etc."  Sounds good, right?  Well I did that...weeks ago!  I live in an apartment so there's only so much cleaning, reorganizing, etc. I can DO.  The place is clean, organized, ready to be decorated for Christmas.  Now what?

Read.  I have done a TON of reading (which I truly don't mind) but I start to feel guilty when that's all I do.

Volunteer you suggest?  Here's the issue: I don't want to set a volunteer schedule with some place only to get a job and then have to bail...would it kill my time and help others? Absolutely...but it would also be very rude of me to start and then leave so I'm holding out until the beginning of the year.

I'm not my best when I'm not busy.  I know it may seem strange but my mood, energy, productivity, and overall outlook are so much better when I am slightly overwhelmed.  Having only a job and no graduate school will already be a big change since I've been doing it for 2 years but to have neither?  WHOA NOW, SLOW DOWN!

*sigh* I just want a job.  I want to feel purpose and motivation again.  I like working.  Even if I won $10,475,027,175 I still would do something with my time...probably travel and volunteer!  But until that happens...I'd just like a job.  I am looking into areas both in and outside of my field and my scope of practice.  I am being reasonable (actually undercutting) in what I'm asking for salary-wise and commuting.

Sorry if this blog seems whiney and down.  I just didn't anticipate this going on this long.  Maybe if I can get something by the start of the year that'd be great.

Cross fingers and toes, eh?

GHC Christmas Party

On Wednesday the 14th (also my Mom's birthday!) I headed to work after a day of errands to celebrate our Christmas party!  We had such a great time and had such yummy food!

Check out our fun pics!

The yummy desserts everyone brought-they were SO GOOD!

All of us chowing down on our catered lunch!

Kristy enjoying her BBQ in her Santa hat.

We were all digging in-we had waited all day for this lunch!  From L to R: Me, Summer, Melissa, John (in back), Racheal, Todd and Kristy.  Amanda was hardly in any pictures since she had the camera but she was there too!!  After we all ate the main course we started playing our dirty Santa game-it was SO funny and I think everyone got some really cool gifts!

Me opening my gift: aloe socks, candy and a cool thermos/cup!

Melissa picking another gift after hers got stolen!

Melissa had one the crock pot cookbook!  Amanda tried stealing it from her but Melissa wanted it so bad she ran around the table and over people to keep it, hahaah!  Amanda told her that she could have it only because she was so nice because Amanda really wanted it! It was such a great laugh!

Summer got a nice bottle of wine!  John ended up stealing it from her so she got some coffee and a cute mug instead.  The other gifts were: a Bath&Body Works gift card, a picture frame, some homemade cookies (3 dozen!)

Next we played a couple of games where we could win gift cards!  The first game was where we had to guess who's memory was whose and it was a riot!  Todd won that one and got a $25 gift card to Red Robin!

Next was this really cool game where you had a partner and had to wrap a "present" with only 1 hand-each partner could contribute only 1 hand each to wrap it! Talk about hilarious!!  Below are a few of the finished products from a few teams.

 

Team RN: Summer and Todd hard at work

Team SCC: Me and Kristy-and our horribly wrapped gift, haha!

Team Therapy: John and Melissa so quiet and diligent!

Team Nurse: Amanda and Racheal with their candy gift.  Amanda kept hoping to win for cleverness but team therapy won 2 gift cards!

It was such a good time-I'm so very thankful and grateful that I work with such an awesome team who feels like my other family.  It was a yummy, hilarious and relaxing time to spend with my friends.

THANKS GHC and until next year-Christmas 2012!

A very long Recap-so would it still be called a recap?

Well well!  It's been a hot minute since I wrote last but I've been either under the weather or busy!

But I'm still here-pinky promise  =]

So much has been going on-work, play, health, family, friends, school.  Let me recap with a bit of all of it-it will be a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong blog so either: 1) get on your reading glasses and stay a while or 2) skim the good parts and move to the next, lol.

*Work:  Work has been a bit dead lately but it has been good because we're catching up on some things that get us in tip-top shape as an office.  In 2 1/2 weeks I will be celebrating my 1 year at my work place! YAY!  It seems like I haven't even been there that long because I still learn new things every day and still enjoy the people I work with and the things I do, lol!  I am proud to call myself a member of the team, that's for sure.  We are off for Labor Day (Monday 9/6) so that will be AWESOME! I'll get some sleeping in a relaxation coming my way that weekend =]

*Play: I am almost done reading Paulo Coelho's book The Alchemist.  I'm liking it the more and more I read  it, but what I had to explain to both Derrick and my mom is that since it was originally written in Spanish the translation is a bit off-and you can tell in the writing...BUT still a good book and I think I'll be glad I read it once it's over.  I think the next book I plan on reading is The Lovely Bones.  I want to see what the hype is about and since I borrowed it from my mom, I need to read it to give it back, haha!

 Does anyone remember the book The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster?

Oh my god I fell in LOVE with that book as a kid!  For anyone who even remotely adores school and the things we learn(ed) within it, please please please read it-if you haven't! It's pretty amazing.  I just read that:
"Critics have acknowledged that the book is advanced for most children, who would not understand all the wordplay or the framing metaphor of how to achieve wisdom.^[3][4] Writers like the reviewer in The New York Times have focused on the children and adults able to appreciate it; for them, it has "something wonderful for anybody old enough to relish the allegorical wisdom of Alice in Wonderland and the pointed whimsy of The Wizard of Oz".^[5] It is now often acknowledged as a classic of children’s literature." 
I took that off of mom's book shelves and I doubt I'll be giving that one back, hahaha!

I finally got my new Bose Headphones! THEY ARE INCREDIBLE!!  You seriously have no idea how amazing they are unless you have your own pair.  I sat back, listening to the Doors, with the biggest smile on my face since our wedding!  A bit of a splurge and a little materialistic, but since I try not to do either, I made my guilt go away (after having a mild anxiety attack, lol) and enjoyed-and continue to enjoy-my music.  Derrick also got a new XBox 360 Slim-another large purchase but well worth the spend and anxiety attack.  He is ubber happy and it is also much more energy efficient and can hold like 10x's more on it than the old one-it also came with a new wireless controller and headset!  he sold his old console, headset, and controller and was able to get some games that he used to have (he ended up having to sell them when we were tight on finances) and can add them back into his collection.  As much as his gaming drives me insane, seeing him giddy makes it all worth it.

Also in regards to playing, Der and I went to Chattanooga this past weekend to hang out and do some playing of our own.  See that info. in the FAMILY section next.

*Family: Last weekend was my sisters Graduation party-she has completed her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix! SO proud of her!

She went to Oklahoma to actually walk across the stage and she brought back my grandmother and aunt!  Her party this past weekend was awesome! Lots of friends and family showed up, brought some YUMMY food and she opened a few meaningful and fun gifts that we adorned her cake table with.  It sounds silly, but I feel like I'm the big sister-who's so proud of what she's done. I think Dad and Dot Dot are glad they were able to watch her walk in OK and to come back to celebrate with her.  My Dot Dot (that's my grandmother's name) and Aunt Phyllis are staying in Chattanooga for about 2 months because my "Uncle" Clyde (not really my uncle but he's like my grandmothers brother so we call him that) is in very poor health and they're afraid he may not last too much longer...it really makes me sad.  

I've only had 3 people I know die and I was around 12 when my Great Grandmother Ruby died, about 15 or 16 when my Great Uncle David died and 21 when my mentor Dale McGillard died.  I wasn't really close to my Memaw because she was in a nursing home for all of what I can remember.  We've got a few pictures of all of us with her though, so that's good, but I still remember being very said when my mom left to go to the funeral. I was very close to my Uncle David (he used to call me Jordan Gordon) as a child so his death (from Cancer) really tore me up, but I did not go to his funeral.  Dale died while Derrick and I were in New Mexico-he passed a few days after the new year actually.  I was very close to him-as close as a Professor and Student are professionally.  He was my mentor and helped me get through college with great grades, more knowledge on acting and its process, and in 4 years-even after transferring to and from UTC. I cried all day on Derrick's lap when we found out he passed. Actually, I've never been to a funeral-and I don't really want to, as horrible as that sounds. But I think when my Uncle Clyde passes I will.  I think it's time.

We have always had Christmas (and sometimes Thanksgiving) every year on my dad's side at Uncle Clyde's house.  He used to chain smoke in his kitchen and watch birds in his backyard.  He made the BEST food from scratch and could never tell you the recipes because they varied a little bit each time he made them!  He always had at minimum 10 stray cats he would feed on his back porch.  He's got every Disney movie (either on DVD, VHS, or both) EVER MADE on his shelves.  he used to play the organ and do the score board for the local church down the hill. He collects a bunch of knick knacks and has the most comfortable guest bed on the planet.  His sense of humor has and always will stay intact.  When we would visit my dad on his weekends we would always go visit Uncle Clyde and swing on his rickety porch swing and climb his knobby tree in the front yard.  I learned to throw a Frisbee in his back yard and have some fond memories that my dad and I shared at that house-like our early morning Dunkin' Donuts and t.v. time when I was a child...Now he is 5' 10" and weighs barely 100 lbs.  He is on oxygen 24/7 and can no longer smoke.  He doesn't have much energy to cook or do much now. He still watches his birds though.  And now he's getting in to RetroTV, lol.  I think he's starting to look back on his life.  He's told Dot Dot that he's ready whenever.  I think that's very admirable seeing that he's got prostate cancer, CHF, I think COPD, along with a few other ailments.  He just turned 76 about 2 weeks ago.

After all of that I listed above, I still don't know much about him.  I asked my Dot Dot some questions and this is what I got: His middle name is Marvin.  He was engaged twice but never married.  He used to have dark hair and eyes and has always been a bean pole.  Now he's got no hair and looks like a mix of Jiminy Cricket and Ghandi-both smiley and happy-and still is a bean pole.  He's always loved the heat (he never had air conditioning in his house until Dot Dot JUST put in a wall unit 2 weeks ago). His mother lived just down the street from him before she died a few years ago. He used to play the organ at the church down the hill from him. He was born in Chattanooga and lived in Harrison starting in 1949.  I think when he passes he'll pass just fine. Quietly, in no pain, and probably in his sleep.  I sit her crying a bit thinking about it, but I know that he's okay and ready to meet his maker so I can't be sad for him.  I'll just miss him and Christmas will never be the same without him...

On Sunday Der, Mom, Me, Dot Dot, and Phyllis went to the Hunter Museum of Art in Chattanooga and looked at the beautiful exhibits the museum's got.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE art-I could spend MILLIONS of dollars on it and not blink about the purchase.  I could spend MILLIONS of hours in art museums and immersed in art books and never even check my watch. It was nice.  I was the only one who had ever been before and even then there were some pieces I forgot they had and the new blown glass exhibit was traveling and new this time around.  I think we all had a wonderful time.  Everyone knows how in to art I am and my past 2 boyfriends always said they'd take me to view some art and never did.  Now Der is all smug because he made good on his promise to take me, lol. It was nice and I'd love to see the art museum in Nashville sometime...maybe soon!  Der and I enjoyed the time with my family and a bit of alone time we got just watching t.v. and falling asleep together on mom's extremely comfy bed.

*School: Well I have officially applied to MTSU's Graduate program for an MA in Sociology! I don't think I want to stay at MTSU to complete my MA but I don't mind starting it-at least they've got the topics of interest I'd like to study when even Cambridge in England doesn't! Hopefully I'll end up graduating from Berkeley =]  I've got 3 people writing my letters of recommendation and later today I have to write my letter of interest and update my resume so I can send them both in at the beginning of next week.  Later this week I'll officially be signing up to take my GRE! I've been studying my book (back on the wagon, lol) and am getting slightly more confident in my skills.  I think if I can work on my math and learn the tools I need to do well on it hopefully I will.  I will be filling out the FAFSA for the first time in a few weeks (if I get accepted) which is crazy because I'll be filing under my new name, as married and with paychecks now, haha! Keep those fingers and toes crossed that all goes well.

*Friends: I suck.  My great friend Tonya is in The Grapes of Wrath play and is Rose of Sharon!!! And since you should now know that Steinbeck is my FAVORITE author, you see another reason why I'd like to go.  Look at her in this pic-isn't she perfect for it?!

 SUCH a great and fitting role for her and since my STUPID car is acting up, we can't go! We had budgeted for dinner, tickets, and flowers to go this weekend (the last) and since my car is messing up we can't =( I've also had a hard time getting in touch with Kelly (she's back to teaching so her schedule is all crazy) and I didn't get to see Destiny last time I was in the Nooga because of family/Navy conflicts. SO I am trying to remedy all of that by: taking Tonya to dinner next week (once my car gets fixed), calling and catching up with Kelly and maybe seeing her next weekend, and Destiny is coming to MBoro over Labor Day weekend (along with mom!) to see our new place and to FINALLY hang out!  I may not have a ton of friends but the one's I've got I wouldn't trade for $1.1 mil.  And we're still having dinner with John and Elisa.  When I spoke of them in this blog, it was the first dinner we had all had.  Now, ever since, we trade apartments and once a week make dinner for us 4; it's a nice way to relax and chill with some good people-over good food. We're eating at their place on Sunday =]

*Health: I've been doing relativity well with my health (as we should all along, right?) I'm still trying to watch my sugar intake (with the exception of donuts on Thursday-hey, my boss bought them as celebration for a good office and glad to be back), I've been eating more salads instead of junk, and I'm still chugging that water and coffee. I'm a bit proud, really.  I always thought it was so hard but it really isn't that bad.  Granted, I am in desperate need for more potassium (my calves lock up allllll of the time now-I need more supplements) but I have a general feeling of good health-with my stupid allergies being the exception.  I haven't been working out like I should but now that there aren't heat waves and no pet walking/outside warnings, me and Tuck are getting back in our routine.  I think with my next paycheck I may splurge and get those shoes I was talking about (see this other blog) or maybe some good new running shoes in general. Though I'd LOVE to shed some pounds, I'm not really doing all of this for that reason.  I just feel like I have no reason to take care of myself.  It's like I have no reason to be late to work, to take a shower, to breathe the air. Taking care of myself needs to be much more of a priority than it has been. And hell, if I shed a few pounds and get a bit of muscle, who's to complain?

Alright lovelies, I know this was probably longer than we BOTH expected...but thanks for the dedication  =]

You rock and I roll.

J

My early Saturday ritual

I like that I look forward to writing in my blog every Saturday morning.  It's nice-I get my coffee, think about breakfast, write, and usually giggle all before 9:00. Granted, I'd write more often if someone (*cough cough DERRICK cough cough*) wasn't on the PC so much-but I'm not mad or upset about it.  It just gives me something else to get a bit excited about come Saturday!

First-a recap of my loverly night last night with husband.  I got a text on Thursday saying Friday-after I got off of work-was to be "us" day with lots of time spent together and a big romantic surprise. So when I turn the key yesterday to come inside to say hello to Tucker and check the mail I came in to this:

Not too good of a picture (stupid cell phone) but it's our table set for 2 to candle light! I go in the kitchen and Derrick is boiling our wheat spaghetti noodles and grilling some chicken breasts!

(You can't tell here but it's wheat spaghetti with chicken alfredo and butter rolls! SO delicious!)

He had such a sheepish smile on his face-it was precious.  He said "Hi darling" and we wrapped our arms around each other and kissed and hugged-briefly recapping our day before talks of the romance to the right of us.  I asked what was for dinner, while looking around with a smile on my face.  It was so nice!  I also started noticing that the dishes had been done, everything had been tidied and cleaned, bed made, floor swept...wow! Now Derrick and I both do our share of cleaning but we: a) usually wait until the weekend and b) usually split it all up.  Our house wasn't a disaster or anything but it was wonderful coming home and noticing how clean everything was and how I didn't need to even think about any of it at least until today.  I am very grateful. After dinner we went to the bedroom and just hung out-really.  We talked, listened to music, laughed, and laid down in hopes of letting our food settle before taking Tucker on a walk and watching "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".

BUT: I ended up either eating too much or dinner did not mesh well with lunch and became extremely ill...so we have postponed the dog walk and the movie to today-after Derrick helps some friends move.  I absolutely HATE that I got so sick but even still-Derrick was understanding, lovable, and very accommodating.  He came and checked on me off and on all night.  I fell asleep at like 8:00 and outside of for a few minutes when he went to bed, didn't wake up again until 7:30 this morning!  Stomach is still a bit woozy but definitely not anywhere close to what it was last night. It's great to know I didn't disappoint him and I hope he knows he didn't disappoint me. Being married has it's perks-but being in love and having a wonderful friend to partake in that love with you doesn't hurt, lol.  So today we shall swim, walk, play, laugh, watch, and enjoy.  I can't wait <3

Second:  I have yet to begin another book.  I've got "The Scarlett Pimpernel" by my bed but just haven't picked it up and started reading it yet...I honestly don't think it's the book I really want to read right now.  I want to read it-for sure-just not for the moment.  So I'll scourge our book shelves in hopes of finding something I haven't read (which shall be doubtful) and then wait until I've got a bit of extra cash and I'll go get a few.  I get paid on Wednesday and I plan on getting a GRE study book-in hopes that it can help!  So when I'm picking it up, I may just pick up another book or two.  I'd really like to start on the "Hitchhikers" series but there are 5 and I'd much rather buy all 5 than 1 at a time...when I get into books I usually GET IN TO them, if ya know what I mean.  I'll check my GoodReads account (go here to know what I'm talking about) and see what I've got on my To Read list. There are so many good books out there so hopefully my decision(s) will be well made.

Third: I have been listening to my iPod a lot more recently.  It's been very enlightening, to say the least.  I've rediscovered my love for Cake, Coldplay, Radiohead, and a bunch of random artists and songs set on shuffle.  *For those who have not at least listened to ColdPlay's album "Viva la Vida"-YOU ARE MISSING OUT. GO DO IT.  I've been falling asleep the past few nights with my ear buds in and a calm in my head.  Last night I remembered that I used to go to sleep with some sort of music playing-usually classical-every night.  I don't know when I stopped doing that...I guess when I went to college and had to share the room with more than just me?  I also used to listen to music when I got ready for school, dances, parties, going out, etc.  I still do that-just not as much as I did.  In retrospect, I have loved music in every genre, form, style since I was a small child and have grown up absolutely enjoying everything about it to the fullest. I guess what I'm trying to say is: I need more music on my iPod and I need to listen to it more.  Hell, I've got 120 GB worth of space on the damn thing and I've only got like 19 or 20 GB actually on it.  I seriously need to invest in some iTunes and more cds so I can up this usage.  I need to put some "books on tape" and some operas on there-both totally worth the extra GB usage. (If you're interested in opera, I'd suggest: Tosca and Carmen. If you're not sure about opera or these 2-check for sound bites on them so you can listen.)

Last: Work is going well.  I've got a training class to go to on Tuesday and then the following Wednesday I must trek to Clarksville for the day and actual train some people...kind of cool, kind of not.  It's all going fairly well. A friend and out main PT is leaving soon-which sucks-but his replacement is a cool guy with a great work ethic.  Things are a changin' and mostly good (at least for our office) but things are getting a bit heated and intense elsewhere...it will all work out-it always does, doesn't it??

Alright crickets and kittens-time for this train to head out.

I miss you already.

<3

It's not always rainbows & buttercups, darlin' but we gotta keep movin' on.

Well this week has been...stressfulish?

Not too much madness has actually gone on but I've been very irritable and aggravated the past 3 days.  Maybe it has to do with work and maybe it doesn't.  But either way it's got to stop because it's "making" me slack on my work-out routine, budgeting, sleep, and smiles. (I put quotes around the making because nothing is actually making me do anything...just super stressed and exhausted and trying to find a scapegoat).

I'm glad we're going to Chattanooga this weekend.  Actually, the next few days are going to be pretty awesome as far as company, time, and relaxation goes.

Thursday: babysitting Andrew and Dylan (you can read more about these precious babes here) for Kelly and Wes so they can celebrate their 3 year wedding anniversary (yee!)

Friday: coffee with the lovely Lauren Ashlee Street before she embarks on her heroic journey to Louisville for Graduate School

Saturday: drive to Chattanooga and see moms final performance of "Brigadoon!" with Derrick

Sunday: RELAX with family and BFF Destiny

Monday: MD appointment then back to reality to work for 1/2 a day.

That will be nice! And than I can pick up my workout regimen and quit blaming work, stress, exhaustion, etc. for it and actually work on it.  I think Derrick and I may take Tucker for a quick 15 minute walk tonight...depends on how we feel.

Derrick is currently beating the mattress outside so I can sleep a bit better since my allergies are kicking my ass (to read more about that go here).  We reallllllllllllly need a new mattress and box spring (the one we've got was my sisters from when she was 12-she's almost 28!) but we're making do with what we've got...so I've got a great hubby outside beating the dust mites out of it for me =]  Let me brag for a second and say it is SO NICE coming home to: a made bed, clean dishes, clean-folded-and-put-up-laundry, dinner in the oven, a set dinner table, and a mattress beating for my allergies.  


I love him.


Not too much to say here, just a little "hello!" to the "fans", lol.


XoXoXo,
J

(Insert sigh of relief here)

We've now got a monitor thanks to a GREAT friend Zack Pierce-it works fine and will work stupendously until we can save for a new desktop all together...maybe for Christmas??

In other news: I have been working like a dog for the past 2 weeks-I mean I'll go ahead and say I work pretty hard Monday-Friday 8-5 anyway but these past 2 weeks have been draining me with the travel and training and then coming back to my office to see everything days behind on my desk *sigh* Luckily, I was able to stay late (I know, it seems weird to say lucky to that!) yesterday and catch up on a lot of work so when Monday comes and I'll be training 2 girls all week, they won't have to suffer because I'm days behind where I need to be.  Also, since I've got a supporting boss, she was willing to give me that extra hour and also let me know we'll get the rest caught up next week once it's calmed down around the office-she's been in training off and on for the past 3 weeks.  So this weekend I plan on reading A LOT, maybe laying by the pool, working out, and doing a bit of small cleaning (read in to this as meaning=I plan on doing a whole lot of nothing).


Sunday I may catch some coffee with Lauren Ashlee (which would be nice, I won't lie). I'm trying to convince Tonya, as we speak, to drive all the way from Mt. Juliet to hang out and drink coffee with me-a doubtful feat but still trying damn it! I just want to hang out with some friends!  Since Derrick's been having insomnia lately, our schedules are almost complete opposite with a rare hour or 2 that we can eat dinner and watch movies or Netflix together-and I hate it! And don't get me wrong, I go to sleep so early because I'm exhausted from work, and he's up late because he's stressed out about getting a job, so no one is to blame. Well, not hate, because I know it's no one's fault but I get clingy sometimes and enjoy company of people I like.  (Hence the coffee with Lauren and Tonya).


I've realized a lot lately that I only have a small few friends that I can hang out with on technically a regular basis but even still-not really. I have a best friend who lives in Cleveland, TN who is getting ready to ship off to the Navy and the other lives in Lebanon, TN with 2 kids and assistant Cheer leading coach position both eating up her time. I'm not mad at either of them (duh!!) but I miss hangoutage.  Tonya has been THE BOMB and thankfully we've been able to hang out with her at least once a week but since she's going to be starting "Grapes of Wrath" soon, that time will be missed until it's over in August. I am glad though, that we've been getting closer in our friendship and I do hope it continues! And then my closest actual friend in Murfreesboro is busy getting ready for Grad school in August and working (Lauren) so...well point blank: I just miss my FRANDS! No, I am not trying to throw a pity party-I'm simply stating that I have good friends and in good places, just not close enough to hang out regularly...and I hate that, lol.  Maybe I need to pick up a class or something so I can be around more people?  It'd probably be good for me especially when Der goes back to school since I'll be alone a lot and I don't want to be.

I want this again-

My favorite girls: From L-Tonya, Kelly, Me, my sister Jen, Destiny, and Shelley

Maybe I'm just spoiled because I got SO much time with them all around the wedding, haha!

One thing I DO have that is nice is I DO have a husband and pup-both of whom are super loving and silly so when we DO get to have time together it's bliss.  I am thankful.  That's for sure.

                                                                   Ain't they cute?!

Alright-I need to quit bitching and be patient.  Next time I come in the Nooga-IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG with hangoutage! Get ready.

XOXO

Another week another dollar? No, that's not right...

It's been a week already since my last blog? For shame.  I am a bit surprised it's been that long, really.  Maybe because it seems like this week has GONE ON FOREVER!  Seriously-for.ev.er. (say in "Sandlot" tone).

Not too much has been going on besides the fact that this week has been utter madness at the workplace.  My boss has just been promoted to Executive Director of our office so she's been in training all week for that-which means I've been in the office like 91% of this week alone...which isn't too bad but really quiet and busy!  I am proud of her though.  It seems kind of silly but my boss isn't just my boss, but my friend.  And luckily, there is a line in between when we know where our relationship as colleagues can and cannot cross.  I like that.


I also like the fact that I will be in Dickson next week for training and then the following week a person from Clarksville is being trained by me all week!  I won't lie: I feel a little important in that  =]  I like training people but I'm not good at it, haha!  Okay-that's a fib too.  I am fairly good but I get all goofy about it because I don't know how to present the information, I just kind of...give it, lol.  Well we'll see how it goes.  I should also, within the month, be training another employee in our office so maybe the cumbersome work load won't be so bad split between 2. We shall see, my friends.


In other news:  Our house is coming along so well! There's some random crap in the middle of the floor that I'm not sure of where to put so...it just sits.  I'll figure something out, I'm sure of it.  I've been feeling a bit off lately and that's upsetting.  I think it's my underlying depression but I have nothing to be depressed about nor do I actually feel it.  But there it is-the beast in the background.  Today was a little better though, with Wednesday being the worst of the week.


Oh! And last night Derrick and I celebrated being married for 1 full month!!  I've received my social security card in the mail so now it's LEGAL-ER(?) lol.  I mean the license was legal but now I can be tracked by my new last name and number!  Well bring it on big brother!  There's no turning back now  ;]  It was a quiet but nice night.  Derrick made lasagna and we watched "UP" on the Netflix cue-OH DEAR JESUS-it was amazing to say the least.  I had never really had a "hankering" for watching it but Der convinced me last night and I told him: "If I cry during this, because I am NOT in the mood to cry, I will punch you in the throat, lol".  Well if you've seen the movie then you know I wept like a 5 year old being refused late night ice cream-through the WHOLE MOVIE.  I think why it got to me so much was because I can see me and Derrick growing old like Ellie and Carl and it made me so happy/sad to actually see it kind of play out before me.  

See here we've got: Young Carl and Ellie (upon meeting)-top, Newlyweds Carl & Ellie cloud gazing-middle, and a bit older (though not much) Carl & Ellie working on their first home-bottom. *le sigh* Precious.


Very sweet-a nice night.  When then cuddled.  No lovey-dovey business or raunchy stuff-just cuddled and fell asleep as 2 spoons in the drawer.  And it was perfect.  I woke up today feeling a lot better and much more refreshed-maybe I just needed some more TLC or a good cry to make this old train feel better...Hmmmmmm...


Well fat cats, I'm going to go do some chores and bathe before Tonya comes over to hang out.  I'm loving this girl-I swear!


Needed hugs are a-comin' your way.

XOXOXOXO

With the pizza pasta in the oven and "House" rearing itself to feed Derrick's addiction, the night is set.

Things are going pretty well.

Wedding things are chugging right along with a few nicks in the way, but chugging just the same. 108 days!

INTENSE.

Derrick is back in school and loving it. He's chucked full of law arguments and stout opinion; he's in his element.

Work is great. I am finally finding comfort and organization in my many many tasks and that is SUCH a relief. I've been waiting for this relief since September!

I have found I do not have hypothyroidism...which is a blessing and a curse. Keep the fingers crossed that my weight loss can still happen...because this was a reason we thought I had gained so much so quick...and alas it's not.

Hmmm...

I'll work it out-I ain't skert.