25 Things

So officially, this was a Facebook thing, but since a) I don't get on Facebook that often, b) I don't feel like tagging 25 people, c) my New Year's resolution is to get to 200 posts. Okay that last one isn't true - I didn't make any New Year's resolutions. Except the ones I make about every other day, when I resolve to do the dishes or fold the laundry (yes I did say every other day - that's so sad). Well, now that we've chased that rabbit ...

In no particular order

1) We never lost our electricity! We are very thankful and so are the fishies that couldn't have survived the cold.
2) I got two whole days off and spent them organizing the guest room and closet and playing Rock Band with my hubby. It's not done yet, but great strides were made.
3) I'm working on becoming a crazy coupon lady - the crazy part is easy.
4) We bought a quilt for the bedroom - from Target - slowly losing the mismatched look.
5) Sometimes after I turn off the oven, I leave the door open so the warm air isn't wasted.
6) When I was younger, I got chicken pox and strep throat at the same time ... and came down with them on Christmas day
7) I love Chinese food and have never found a restaurant as good as the buffet in my home town
8) I think that Aquafina and Dasani water taste metallic. My preference is filtered sink water or Nestle Pure Life.
9) I like to scrapbook, but I'm more drawn to the patterned paper then actually putting anything in a book.
10) I am currently reading the third book in the Septimus Heap series.
11) I have quit two jobs in my life (other than because of moving away) and both were excellent decisions.
12) I'm a fan of candles in general, especially the kind that smell nice (Febreeze are great)
13) I am easily drawn into reality shows (but not the MTV variety)
14) My sister is getting married on March 14
15) She is breaking the June trend the three other wedddings have had and more power to her
16) She is making me give a toast - I didn't make her give a toast
17) I never thought that I, my younger brother, and younger sister would get married 3 years in a row
18) Or that my younger brother would have a baby before me for that matter - but I'm quite excited for them (and to find out next week what they are having!)
19) I used to wear patterned socks every day, but I have grown more boring in my old age - basic white now
20) I don't like to eat big breakfasts in the morning, but am totally okay with big breakfast for dinner
21) I wanted to be an author in grade school. I think I still have a few "books" I started (just for laughs)
22) I didn't think it would be this challenging to come up with 25 things
23) A good pair of jeans does wonder for self-esteem - too bad they're hard to find when you're 5'1" and *ahem* curvy
24) I'm not much of a morning person, but not a night owl either
25) I find good sales and cute earrings hard to pass up

Join in the fun if you like!

In case you were wondering

This week feels kind of unreal and potentially monumental. Josh and I have decided to look for a house! Basically, we were looking for houses to rent and discovered that a mortgage payment could actually cost less. So, we will be talking to the bank and trying very hard to be wise and (if necessary) patient. :) Kind of ironic considering just last week Josh was telling me that he didn't want to move again for a while. But he's all for it if we're moving into our own place. So, we'll see what happens. I'll keep you up to date.

Among other decisions this week, Josh went to find out about getting his Masters degree. After talking to Wiggy, he is super excited and we're going for it. Well I'm not doing anything except some help with the funding and heading up the cheering section, but he's going for it! He will probably start classes in the fall.

So even though nothing has happened yet, it feels like things are happening quickly. And while we were making these decisions, we of course had to talk about where the future fam and the car I will need eventually fit into the mix - no real decisions made there, but you can see why my brain is swimming!!!

Inaugural song of the moment

Apparently, if I'm a good blogger, I will post on the inauguration yesterday. But I didn't watch any of it. Bad citizen. I worked late and then turned on (gasp!) American Idol.

I think Obama appears to be a good guy, so I hope that proves to be true. I don't agree with some of the changes he wants to make, but to tell the truth - I don't believe it's going to make that much of a difference. I think if America wants to see change to badly, we need to step up. So in honor of the inauguration (and not waiting around for Obama to fix my life) my song of the moment...

A Savior on Capitol Hill by Derek Webb

I’m so tired of these mortal men
with their hands on their wallets and their hearts full of sin
scared of their enemies, scared of their friends
and always running for re-election
so come to DC if it be thy will
because we’ve never had a savior on Capitol Hill

you can always trust the devil or a politician
to be the devil or a politician
but beyond that friends you’d best beware
’cause at the Pentagon bar they’re an inseparable pair
and as long as the lobbyists are paying their bills
we’ll never have a savior on Capitol Hill

[Bridge]
all of our problems gonna disappear
when we can whisper right in that President’s ear
he could walk right across the reflection pool
in his combat boots and ten thousand dollar suit

you can render unto Caesar everything that’s his
you can trust in his power to come to your defense
it’s the way of the world, the way of the gun
it’s the trading of an evil for a lesser one
so don’t hold your breath or your vote until
you think you’ve finally found a savior up on Capitol Hill

A-Flat

Josh and I had an adventurous Friday. I went to the ministry center to get some things squared away for nursery. One of our friends were there and asked if I was driving the red car. He told me the tire was flat and I really wanted it to be a bad joke. Sadly, the rear tire was flat - like rim on the ground. I am soooo thankful that it happened in the parking lot instead of while I was on the road or out of town.

My husband came to the rescue ... eventually. And even though it was bitterly cold, he put a spare on so we could get to the auto center - while I called around for prices and took pics. :)


We knew it was getting close to time for new tires. (You can almost tell how bald they were getting.) Okay, so maybe past time for new tires ...

We ended up just getting new tires for all four. I still had to finish my rounds at the courthouses, so Josh took care of that as well - which is a story in itself. The short version is that Sears took about 3 hours to finally get the tires replaced (when they said it would be 1). However, since we were mis-quoted a price and the computer didn't show that the tire we wanted was out of stock - we ended up with an upgrade that gave us $170 worth that we didn't have to pay for! I love the way God provides.

(Insert chipper music)

Has anyone seen the show The Big Comfy Couch? It came on PBS in the 90's. My sister was a fan, so it was on in our house. It's basically this girl and her doll and they hang out on a big comfy couch (which sounds like fun if I trade the doll in for a webkinz).

Every episode, at the end, the main girl would look around at toys and books strewn everywhere and say

"WHO MADE THIS BIG MESS?!?"

That's what I feel like this weekend. I look around our apartment, knowing that it must have been okay earlier in the week because we had friends over. What happened?

Oh yeah, and then the girl realizes that they made the mess while playing and this chipper little music plays while they clean the room in fast forward.

Unfortunately, our apartment will not be set to right in 30 seconds.

In case it's not cold enough for you

Wow. This is good stuff. We tried the Tagalong kind and if I had room in my freezer I would totally go get the other flavors. A little pricey, but worth it.

Side note: I got this picture online and am a little perplexed why the two ends are Edy's but the one in the middle says Dreyer's. Strange.

Another note: HA! I just realized that the first picture I've posted in 2009 is of ice cream. I'm not sure what that says about me.

Options are good ... right?

Alternate title: Growing up is hard to do

What day is it? Because it feels like it has already been a week and a half. I feel like things should be going well, but it's kind of overwhelming. So I'm getting it off my chest.

• Josh found out about two (part time) job opportunities this week. He's checking into it, which is cool. We know of one possible full time that should be available in the future, but since we don't know how far away that future is ... it's hard to know whether to wait or not.
• He's also considering going back to school for his master's in counseling, so that's something to pray about. And could influence whether he wants a part time or full time job (of course our finances influence that as well).
  
• I have been working on mounds of paperwork from a new client that could connect me with up to nine new contracts. That's awesome ... and a lot. I was also informed that if I were willing to drop my prices some I could get a larger county as well which is about twice as much work as my other counties put together. ... and therefore would be a lot more hours/extra driving time/income/taxes to be paid. :) So I also have to decide how far I can stretch.
  
• I'm getting a little tired of this apartment, but Josh doesn't want to move just for a change of scenery. :) That means I need to a) get things cleaned up/organized so I can feel more relaxed/settled here and b) use our space wisely. This is challenging for me to say from the office because that space if definitely the catch-all right now.

It's like this crazy If...Then game and if you move one piece it changes the way everything else falls. And that's before you even include things we want for our future like having children or buying a home. Good thing I'm not an indecisive person or this could get challenging!

I Heart Lazy Mornings

Today I work a half day - meaning I only have to travel to two counties rather than six. Usually these are my days to do housework, actually cook dinner, etc. Some of that will still happen. But so far Josh and I have been enjoying a lazy morning. We woke up late, ate breakfast together (at the kitchen table!) and now I am still putting off starting work.

One day I'll upload pictures from my camera and blog for real. But apparently I'm too lazy for that right now. :) Happy Thursday!

Way to ring in the new year

Christmas went by in a flash with 2009 right on its heels. Josh and I both had Thursday and Friday off which is a pretty rare occurrence. Usually on New Year's Eve we go to the Cox house for big fun involving lots of food, games, and some of our favorite people. However Josh started feeling yucky, so we spent the evening at home instead with pizza and a couple of movies.

So far, 2009 has brought us:

• a trip to the doctor (thankfully no strep throat)
  
• Monk marathon
• updated budget
  
• catching up on dishes
• way too many hours on Webkinz
• a new and improved (aka larger) fish tank
• a rearranged living room (to make space for the fish tank)
• no more Christmas tree, but still a few unclaimed gifts
• a huge turkey thawing in the fridge courtesy of Target

Happy New Year!