My plane to Seattle for New Year's is delayed 71 minutes. This is the second delay and hopefully the last. Truthfully I've got all night so it doesn't really matter when I get there but the sooner I see Nathan the better. I got extremely used to having him around for two weeks straight and being apart after that is no fun.
I took Scrappy to be boarded today while I'm gone over New Year's. He was all excited because he knew we were going somewhere. But I don't think he knew I was leaving him there for 5 days. He is a good dog and loves new things and new people so I know he will be absolutely fine. But I did cry. I think the man who was checking us in knew that I was getting emotional so he made it really quick and took him without giving me a chance to break down. I walked quickly out the door and tears began to stream down my face. I don't know why I was so torn up about it, he's a DOG. But he really has become my baby...my little shadow. And I hate leaving him. I paid extra for him to get two individualized walks a day and to get all groomed and pretty before I pick him up.
The people were really nice so I know it'll be good. I'm trying not to think about it because I just get a big pit in my stomach of guilt. We just don't know many people here who can have dogs at their houses and in fact, no one is in town anyway since it's Christmas break still...
I think we've decided to get a fairly inexpensive dinner (not The Melting Pot's $78/person like we were considering before) tonight and then just watch movies at home with a little champagne to kick off the new year. Then we'll use the money we saved to get massages on Friday...Woot! Nathan will be working most of Friday so I plan to do some New Year shopping and just relax before I start back up with my last two quarters of school. Yay!
31 December, 2008
18 December, 2008
winter wonderland
Well...definitely a snow day here! If you're watching the news you'll see Spokane is setting records with 17 inches of snow in 24 hours. I'd guess we're near 20-25 now. My office is closed, actually nearly every place in Spokane is closed. They said on the news today that the highway patrol does not want to see any cars on the highway.
My dad called this morning and said some chains for my car were on hold for me at Les Schwab, his treat. That was very nice as we were just talking about how we'd better buy some since we're planning to trek home to Montana tomorrow. Nathan and I tag-team shoveled the driveway (we only have one shovel) and managed to get out and to Les Schwab. Our street hasn't been plowed for a while so we were pretty lucky to make it out and around without getting stuck. I did learn from last year's winter in Spokane that I must always carry a shovel around with me as Spokane does not do a very good job prevent people from getting stuck. All I can say is thank God for four wheel drive and an SUV. I'd be in big trouble if I drove a little car!
Nathan got a company-wide e-mail today saying that as per the inclement weather policy at Expedia, all employees are advised to work from home today, due to the 2-6 INCHES of snow Seattle is expecting...I just had to laugh. Poor Seattle needs to learn to work through the snow...we have 2 FEET here! I'm thinking when I move to Seattle I may find myself the only one at work on "snow days" as I will be confused as to why no one else is "braving" the roads...Silly Seattlites.
I wish I could take some pictures but I left my camera at my parents house over Thanksgiving.
We're supposed to have our work Christmas party tomorrow afternoon but I'm worrying it may be cancelled. If it is we'll try to get a head start on the drive home...although right now they aren't really letting anyone cross the state lines so who knows. We may have a little adventure ahead of us! We are bringing all of our ski stuff home so we are guaranteed to have a car full of warm clothes!
My dad called this morning and said some chains for my car were on hold for me at Les Schwab, his treat. That was very nice as we were just talking about how we'd better buy some since we're planning to trek home to Montana tomorrow. Nathan and I tag-team shoveled the driveway (we only have one shovel) and managed to get out and to Les Schwab. Our street hasn't been plowed for a while so we were pretty lucky to make it out and around without getting stuck. I did learn from last year's winter in Spokane that I must always carry a shovel around with me as Spokane does not do a very good job prevent people from getting stuck. All I can say is thank God for four wheel drive and an SUV. I'd be in big trouble if I drove a little car!
Nathan got a company-wide e-mail today saying that as per the inclement weather policy at Expedia, all employees are advised to work from home today, due to the 2-6 INCHES of snow Seattle is expecting...I just had to laugh. Poor Seattle needs to learn to work through the snow...we have 2 FEET here! I'm thinking when I move to Seattle I may find myself the only one at work on "snow days" as I will be confused as to why no one else is "braving" the roads...Silly Seattlites.
I wish I could take some pictures but I left my camera at my parents house over Thanksgiving.
We're supposed to have our work Christmas party tomorrow afternoon but I'm worrying it may be cancelled. If it is we'll try to get a head start on the drive home...although right now they aren't really letting anyone cross the state lines so who knows. We may have a little adventure ahead of us! We are bringing all of our ski stuff home so we are guaranteed to have a car full of warm clothes!
01 December, 2008
the case of the vanishing garbage can
The town we live in gets very windy at random times of the day. Our's is a new development so there are no mature trees, just little ones held up by posts in everyone's front yard. In this town we all buy our own little garbage cans and the garbage man picks them up one by one and dumps them into his truck. Where I come from the can is huge, provided by the county and the truck has prongs on it to hoist it into the back...all without the garbage man ever getting out. But here it's different.
So anyway, I purchased a nice can from WalMart when we moved here and watched the process play itself out. All went well until our empty garbage can started blowing away as the wind picked up. Since the garbage man comes in the morning and we don't get home until evening, the can sits empty on the street for quite a few hours, just waiting for the wind to blow it away. I have spent many Monday nights searching for it and hauling it back home.
About 2 months ago though it blew away and never came back. I drove around looking for our missing can and never found it. So, we began with a new one and looked down the street every garbage day, wondering if someone had found our can and made it their own.
This morning I started hauling our new can out for garbage day. Halfway down the driveway I noticed a can already on the curb, right in our spot. It was our old can! Lid and all! I ran up to it, took off the lid and found it was full. Strange. I looked around to see if maybe the neighbors had maybe gotten the same one and accidently put it in our spot...Nope, definitely our's.
I decided not to put our other can out because I'd end up paying double for 2 cans. It's not a big charge but our other one was barely full so I opted to wait.
But now I'm curious what happened. I think it's someone else's garbage...If our's was in there for 2 months I would have probably fallen over from the smell and this one wasn't too bad. I only remember seeing Arrowhead brand water bottles in the can...I don't buy them but maybe my roommate does. I would have to rifle through it to see if it was actually our garbage. I think it's someone else's but I don't know why they put it on our curb...maybe so they could have free garbage pick up this week? Who knows?
Of course my roommate believes it's our garbage and someone stole it and went through it all. I just can't live my life in that sort of fear so I've completely ruled that out as even a small possiblity...But she seems convinced. If it could be the case, which it's not, at least I shred my mail.
So anyway, I purchased a nice can from WalMart when we moved here and watched the process play itself out. All went well until our empty garbage can started blowing away as the wind picked up. Since the garbage man comes in the morning and we don't get home until evening, the can sits empty on the street for quite a few hours, just waiting for the wind to blow it away. I have spent many Monday nights searching for it and hauling it back home.
About 2 months ago though it blew away and never came back. I drove around looking for our missing can and never found it. So, we began with a new one and looked down the street every garbage day, wondering if someone had found our can and made it their own.
This morning I started hauling our new can out for garbage day. Halfway down the driveway I noticed a can already on the curb, right in our spot. It was our old can! Lid and all! I ran up to it, took off the lid and found it was full. Strange. I looked around to see if maybe the neighbors had maybe gotten the same one and accidently put it in our spot...Nope, definitely our's.
I decided not to put our other can out because I'd end up paying double for 2 cans. It's not a big charge but our other one was barely full so I opted to wait.
But now I'm curious what happened. I think it's someone else's garbage...If our's was in there for 2 months I would have probably fallen over from the smell and this one wasn't too bad. I only remember seeing Arrowhead brand water bottles in the can...I don't buy them but maybe my roommate does. I would have to rifle through it to see if it was actually our garbage. I think it's someone else's but I don't know why they put it on our curb...maybe so they could have free garbage pick up this week? Who knows?
Of course my roommate believes it's our garbage and someone stole it and went through it all. I just can't live my life in that sort of fear so I've completely ruled that out as even a small possiblity...But she seems convinced. If it could be the case, which it's not, at least I shred my mail.
19 November, 2008
decision made
This morning I scraped my windows in barefeet. It was an interesting sensation running back inside and being unable to feel anything below my ankles. I'm not sure I could complete this task in Montana but I was proud of myself for stupidly doing it in Washington.
Yesterday it seems to have been nearly officially decided that I will be moving to the west side of Washington after graduation. Right now it's a lot safer for us to be somewhere with a little more security than up and moving to a state where we know no one (California), don't have jobs, don't have a ton saved up...So it'll be Washington. I know Nathan really wanted to live in San Diego and he had me pretty sold on the idea. But he is the one who said he thought Washington would be better and I am proud of him for making a very hard but responsible decision.
I could have gone either way so I was waiting for him to wear the pants in this decision.
And now...I am thinking extremely seriously about buying a home after graduation instead of throwing away an estimated $1500 on rent each month. I'm hoping because we're exploring this idea now it could be fairly feasible for the near future. We shall see.
In an attempt to save money I am getting my hair cut and highlighted at the beauty school today. I will sign my life away to new students who may or may not leave me with a purple pixie cut.
Yesterday it seems to have been nearly officially decided that I will be moving to the west side of Washington after graduation. Right now it's a lot safer for us to be somewhere with a little more security than up and moving to a state where we know no one (California), don't have jobs, don't have a ton saved up...So it'll be Washington. I know Nathan really wanted to live in San Diego and he had me pretty sold on the idea. But he is the one who said he thought Washington would be better and I am proud of him for making a very hard but responsible decision.
I could have gone either way so I was waiting for him to wear the pants in this decision.
And now...I am thinking extremely seriously about buying a home after graduation instead of throwing away an estimated $1500 on rent each month. I'm hoping because we're exploring this idea now it could be fairly feasible for the near future. We shall see.
In an attempt to save money I am getting my hair cut and highlighted at the beauty school today. I will sign my life away to new students who may or may not leave me with a purple pixie cut.
17 November, 2008
frozen
Recently I came to the realization that nothing in the freezer belongs to me. Well, except one container of ice cream and one frozen pizza. Other than that it is all my roommate's. This bothers me for two reasons: 1) There is no room for my stuff even if I wanted anything...which is an issue I'm sure could be worked out if said space was actually needed. 2) I have no food on days like today when it's already late and I just want something easy. Or even hard, whatever, just some FOOD. I am craving corn right now...and have none. Stir fry...not going happen. Chicken or some other sort of MEAT? Nothing. How did I let this happen? I'll tell you: graduate school. I don't have time for food. I have time for sandwiches or soups that can be quickly tossed into my backpack for later. I have time for a bowl of ice cream simply because I'm exhausted at the end of the day and it's all I'm craving. Oy.
I would go to the grocery store right now and stock up simply because I don't want to find myself empty-handed the next time I reach into the freezer...But I'm not going to. Class got cancelled tonight and for once I just want to enjoy this thing called "free time" at home.
I want to make a bunch of good stuff and freeze it. Then it can be easily accessed for a 30 minute or less meal. I like those meals. I can't even tell you how badly I want the next 6 months 3 weeks and 6 days to pass so my life can finally fit into the semi-normal category.
My dog smells like dirt but there is something completely endearing to me about this smell. It makes him seem ten times cuter all of a sudden. I don't know why. Lately I've found myself loving him more than I thought possible. We might have to board him for a few days around New Year's and I actually got a little verklempt when I started thinking about leaving my baby there...when did I become this type of pet owner? I didn't love him like this when I went to clean up my car yesterday and could not even begin to get all of his stupid white hair out of there...And his nose smudges all over the window and his slobber on the dashboard. Why do I love him so much?
I would go to the grocery store right now and stock up simply because I don't want to find myself empty-handed the next time I reach into the freezer...But I'm not going to. Class got cancelled tonight and for once I just want to enjoy this thing called "free time" at home.
I want to make a bunch of good stuff and freeze it. Then it can be easily accessed for a 30 minute or less meal. I like those meals. I can't even tell you how badly I want the next 6 months 3 weeks and 6 days to pass so my life can finally fit into the semi-normal category.
My dog smells like dirt but there is something completely endearing to me about this smell. It makes him seem ten times cuter all of a sudden. I don't know why. Lately I've found myself loving him more than I thought possible. We might have to board him for a few days around New Year's and I actually got a little verklempt when I started thinking about leaving my baby there...when did I become this type of pet owner? I didn't love him like this when I went to clean up my car yesterday and could not even begin to get all of his stupid white hair out of there...And his nose smudges all over the window and his slobber on the dashboard. Why do I love him so much?
20 October, 2008
towed
Damn my car. I stayed late at work and decided to just go straight to class instead of head home in between. I was on the phone with my brother as I walked out the door and closed the locked door behind me before realizing I didn't have my keys with me. Our office is locked three doors deep so there was no way back in and we were closed...So the one person I think was there was definitely uninterested in answering my pounds on the door. Luckily I have a spare key stuck under my car so I got it out and decided I'd just get the rest of my keys in the morning. But as I turned the key, my car refused to start. Ughhhh. It was turning over but not starting completely. The lights and radio would all come on but no car.
I called AAA and they sent someone to jump me but clearly it wasn't a battery problem. So he suggested I call AAA back for a tow truck. Ughhh. I waited two hours for all of these people to come and go. Luckily my roommate came to get me and kept me warm in her working car. I had it towed a few blocks to the Toyota service department which I'll call in the morning to find out how many more dollars I can shell out for this thing. I JUST got it back Sunday after having the brakes fixed for at least $450. This is killing me. My dad said the engine looked like a 90 year old engine too so my grandpa cleaned it for me. What the helllllll. I just want a brand new car that works exactly as planned. It's not even like my car is old. It's a 2001. Our 1993 van never had any problems even close to this when I was driving it. Crap.
Our office does emergency car repair loans for our clients. I may be applying for one myself. Kill me now.
I called AAA and they sent someone to jump me but clearly it wasn't a battery problem. So he suggested I call AAA back for a tow truck. Ughhh. I waited two hours for all of these people to come and go. Luckily my roommate came to get me and kept me warm in her working car. I had it towed a few blocks to the Toyota service department which I'll call in the morning to find out how many more dollars I can shell out for this thing. I JUST got it back Sunday after having the brakes fixed for at least $450. This is killing me. My dad said the engine looked like a 90 year old engine too so my grandpa cleaned it for me. What the helllllll. I just want a brand new car that works exactly as planned. It's not even like my car is old. It's a 2001. Our 1993 van never had any problems even close to this when I was driving it. Crap.
Our office does emergency car repair loans for our clients. I may be applying for one myself. Kill me now.
19 October, 2008
doggy door
This blog is a terrible representation of the blogging I actually do. I know I keep saying I'm going to cut and paste from my regular (and unaccessible by people I know...because sometimes it's easier that way) blog and put them here. And I really am going to make a point to do that now.
My mom came over this weekend and gave me back my car-brakes fixed. I have no idea how much these new brakes are costing since my dad paid and I will pay him back. I want to just get it all paid for fast so I'm not having debt looming over me...But then again having that extra money in my account is always nice too...
I went to PetSmart this weekend to try and find a doggy door for my son. They were $189 and looked a bit difficult to install myself. Nathan is insisting on buying it himself anyway but I thought I could at least look. I think we'll try for some cheaper alternatives at Home Depot but we need something soon! I know it's bad but I leave the sliding door open just enough for him to get out during the day while I'm gone. Not only is this a bit unsafe but it invites all the varmints in the neighboorhood to enter my nice warm home and eat my face when I'm sleeping. I'm not really looking forward to that part.
My roommate Alisha and I are becoming Girl Scout leaders. I'm stupid for adding another thing to my full plate but I can't help but think this one will be a fun one. And I'm hoping it comes with cookies...
I'm trying to preoccupy myself until noon so I can eat my leftovers from Tomato Street (please eat there if you ever visit Spokane: my most favorite Italian food ever) but I don't know how much longer I can wait. I have a thing about eating lunch at noon instead of earlier. I think if I eat earlier I just keep snacking versus just waiting and eating the meal a little later. I don't know if it works at all but let me believe it does.
This weekend I decided if faced with the option I would take choose school ending tomorrow versus a million dollars. I think we're just over 7 months and 3 weeks away from the end but I am SOO ready to be out of school and into the world. Plus it comes with finally living in the same town as my boyfriend and making a living wage instead of being a poor college student...Those things are worth way more than $1,000,000 to me. Please come quickly.
My mom came over this weekend and gave me back my car-brakes fixed. I have no idea how much these new brakes are costing since my dad paid and I will pay him back. I want to just get it all paid for fast so I'm not having debt looming over me...But then again having that extra money in my account is always nice too...
I went to PetSmart this weekend to try and find a doggy door for my son. They were $189 and looked a bit difficult to install myself. Nathan is insisting on buying it himself anyway but I thought I could at least look. I think we'll try for some cheaper alternatives at Home Depot but we need something soon! I know it's bad but I leave the sliding door open just enough for him to get out during the day while I'm gone. Not only is this a bit unsafe but it invites all the varmints in the neighboorhood to enter my nice warm home and eat my face when I'm sleeping. I'm not really looking forward to that part.
My roommate Alisha and I are becoming Girl Scout leaders. I'm stupid for adding another thing to my full plate but I can't help but think this one will be a fun one. And I'm hoping it comes with cookies...
I'm trying to preoccupy myself until noon so I can eat my leftovers from Tomato Street (please eat there if you ever visit Spokane: my most favorite Italian food ever) but I don't know how much longer I can wait. I have a thing about eating lunch at noon instead of earlier. I think if I eat earlier I just keep snacking versus just waiting and eating the meal a little later. I don't know if it works at all but let me believe it does.
This weekend I decided if faced with the option I would take choose school ending tomorrow versus a million dollars. I think we're just over 7 months and 3 weeks away from the end but I am SOO ready to be out of school and into the world. Plus it comes with finally living in the same town as my boyfriend and making a living wage instead of being a poor college student...Those things are worth way more than $1,000,000 to me. Please come quickly.
14 October, 2008
tired
It's 8:00pm and I am so excited for bed. I did the reading for one of my classes so I feel like I've put in enough time on school work and can call it a night. I plan to crawl into my bed with the dog and a magazine and see how long my eyes stay open. I have no idea where the tiredness came from.
I interviewed for my job today and I'll find out tomorrow what they decided. Everyone has already told me I "don't need to worry" so I'm not. But I would still just like it to be confirmed that I'm a regular employee now and not temporary.
My friend Whitney was in town with her husband so we had lunch together. She is part of my group of high school best friends so I was so excited to see her. That group of friends was the best I've ever had so being with her made me miss it all. Her poor husband had to sit and listen to us talk about who's doing what as far as high school classmates go but he was a good sport. Seeing my married friends always makes me want to fast forward life though. Even though I'm working my master's I feel like I'm behind the times and still in school compared to others who are advancing their lives. It's dumb I know but I think I'm just sick of school!
My mom is coming here this weekend to trade cars. When I went home for my great grandpa's funeral I took my car in to have the tires rotated and was told the rear brakes were so bad I needed to have them fixed before I could drive my car. Because I was there for such a short amount of time my dad insisted I leave the car there and take a different one. Thus, I headed home in soccer mom style (mom's van). I have no idea how much all this is going to end up costing me, especially since the realized the front brakes are a mess too. I think the parts are about $450 and then my grandpa put them in. Even so, the last thing I want to do is spend any extra money on this stuff... Ugh. It was charged to my dad's account with the mechanic though and he said there isn't a rush to pay him back, so that helps. I'm thinking half now and half a little later will at least be a little more manageable.
This means no seeing Nathan this weekend and I am missing him like crazy...But I think we can manage. This weekend together was a good one, another reminder of how head over heels I still am. I love that feeling. Nine months this weekend and it's still there, life is good.
Tomorrow when I go to the gym I'm getting signed up for spinning classes and then preparing to sweat my ass off 3 days a week during my lunch time. I will come back to work red-faced and sweaty but I'm going to get a workout and get my money's worth
I interviewed for my job today and I'll find out tomorrow what they decided. Everyone has already told me I "don't need to worry" so I'm not. But I would still just like it to be confirmed that I'm a regular employee now and not temporary.
My friend Whitney was in town with her husband so we had lunch together. She is part of my group of high school best friends so I was so excited to see her. That group of friends was the best I've ever had so being with her made me miss it all. Her poor husband had to sit and listen to us talk about who's doing what as far as high school classmates go but he was a good sport. Seeing my married friends always makes me want to fast forward life though. Even though I'm working my master's I feel like I'm behind the times and still in school compared to others who are advancing their lives. It's dumb I know but I think I'm just sick of school!
My mom is coming here this weekend to trade cars. When I went home for my great grandpa's funeral I took my car in to have the tires rotated and was told the rear brakes were so bad I needed to have them fixed before I could drive my car. Because I was there for such a short amount of time my dad insisted I leave the car there and take a different one. Thus, I headed home in soccer mom style (mom's van). I have no idea how much all this is going to end up costing me, especially since the realized the front brakes are a mess too. I think the parts are about $450 and then my grandpa put them in. Even so, the last thing I want to do is spend any extra money on this stuff... Ugh. It was charged to my dad's account with the mechanic though and he said there isn't a rush to pay him back, so that helps. I'm thinking half now and half a little later will at least be a little more manageable.
This means no seeing Nathan this weekend and I am missing him like crazy...But I think we can manage. This weekend together was a good one, another reminder of how head over heels I still am. I love that feeling. Nine months this weekend and it's still there, life is good.
Tomorrow when I go to the gym I'm getting signed up for spinning classes and then preparing to sweat my ass off 3 days a week during my lunch time. I will come back to work red-faced and sweaty but I'm going to get a workout and get my money's worth
16 September, 2008
a home
What if I bought a house right now? This economy is fairly perfect for a homebuyer...There's all kinds of homes on the market to choose from, the prices keep lowering because no one will buy and interest rates are subprime and still dropping. I just wish I knew for certain where we'll be next year. I think San Diego is nearly a for sure but there's no guaranteeing something else can't come up in the next 10 months. And I'm locked in a lease here so it'd be dumb to buy anything here...I'd love to buy in Seattle but if we go to San Diego and never want to leave that's a waste of a home. But really...if I bought a home now and then turned around and sold it years down the road when the market gets better...I could make a good profit. And even without the profit part I could probably save a ton buying a home now than in 3 years when things are back to normal. I don't know, something to think about.
It's also time to think about savings accounts and spending less on "wants" and socking more into an emergency fund for later. I like to think I've got good job security especially since more and more people are falling into the "poor" "homeless" and "low income" categories and that's who I work with...BUT most of the places I work are funded by grants who are only available if the rest of the stars align in the business world. So we rely on other businesses and the government to do well so we can. Makes me a bit nervous. I refuse to go back to school again to try to change my career. In part because I am so over school and will have put in over 18 years and also because I love social work with all my heart and will not give it up because the economy is bad. I have faith it'll get better eventually and in the mean time I know I can creatively make do.
I worry about Nathan's job in the travel industry. Expedia so far is doing okay because people are still traveling, especially corporate travel...But I just fear one day they will begin their job cuts and slowly work their way to him. Really he'll be the last to be cut since he is an integral part of keeping Expedia online, literally, so I think he's fine. But I still worry.
My mom has great job security as a medical assistant but my dad owns a business as a cabinet maker. Things are still fairly steady but usually new cabinets come with new homes, buildings and construction and all that is put on hold right now. My parents are building a new cabin as we speak. They've saved up a lot for it and it should be fine...But even so it's a scary prospect at this time. The cabin is going up incredibly fast since the construction company has very few other jobs. This part is great for us but I can't help but feel awful for the company, especially since it's owned by a family friend and he has had to lay off nearly all of his employees.
Oh life.
It's also time to think about savings accounts and spending less on "wants" and socking more into an emergency fund for later. I like to think I've got good job security especially since more and more people are falling into the "poor" "homeless" and "low income" categories and that's who I work with...BUT most of the places I work are funded by grants who are only available if the rest of the stars align in the business world. So we rely on other businesses and the government to do well so we can. Makes me a bit nervous. I refuse to go back to school again to try to change my career. In part because I am so over school and will have put in over 18 years and also because I love social work with all my heart and will not give it up because the economy is bad. I have faith it'll get better eventually and in the mean time I know I can creatively make do.
I worry about Nathan's job in the travel industry. Expedia so far is doing okay because people are still traveling, especially corporate travel...But I just fear one day they will begin their job cuts and slowly work their way to him. Really he'll be the last to be cut since he is an integral part of keeping Expedia online, literally, so I think he's fine. But I still worry.
My mom has great job security as a medical assistant but my dad owns a business as a cabinet maker. Things are still fairly steady but usually new cabinets come with new homes, buildings and construction and all that is put on hold right now. My parents are building a new cabin as we speak. They've saved up a lot for it and it should be fine...But even so it's a scary prospect at this time. The cabin is going up incredibly fast since the construction company has very few other jobs. This part is great for us but I can't help but feel awful for the company, especially since it's owned by a family friend and he has had to lay off nearly all of his employees.
Oh life.
11 September, 2008
money money money money
I have become so aware of money lately now that I'm doing financial counseling 40+ hours a week. When I don't have anything to do at work I read blogs and websites about financial planning and debt management and whatnot. It's incredibly interesting to me. I have always loved budgeting and planning my money out but I don't have the recommended 3-6 months in savings as an emergency fund, I have not started on my retirement and I've got debt including credit cards and loans. But the more aware of it I become, the more excited I am to begin working on all of it. I can't wait to build up my savings account, starting them for things like an emergency fund, a wedding, a home purchase...I'm excited to be able to put money away towards those things. It's hard while I'm still in school but it's all on the horizon and I like planning it all out.
Of course with my budgeting comes a clothing budget. I know myself well enough to know that I will spend money on clothing every month because it's just what I do. It's my addiction. So instead of attempt to stop it, I can at least try to control it. I have no idea what my budget will be this year but I am already dreaming of my back-to-school shopping spree...It's coming soon!
Nathan is coming here this weekend. It's a pretty short trip since he'll get here Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. Sometimes I want to tell him not to waste the gas because it's so expensive right now but both of us are too busy to take much time off anyway so we might as well take what we can get. I cannot wait to be in the same place all the time. Less than 10 months left...If I could fast forward time right now I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Of course with my budgeting comes a clothing budget. I know myself well enough to know that I will spend money on clothing every month because it's just what I do. It's my addiction. So instead of attempt to stop it, I can at least try to control it. I have no idea what my budget will be this year but I am already dreaming of my back-to-school shopping spree...It's coming soon!
Nathan is coming here this weekend. It's a pretty short trip since he'll get here Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. Sometimes I want to tell him not to waste the gas because it's so expensive right now but both of us are too busy to take much time off anyway so we might as well take what we can get. I cannot wait to be in the same place all the time. Less than 10 months left...If I could fast forward time right now I'd do it in a heartbeat.
I have Nathan's dog, Scrappy (I guess I should say "our" dog because that's how he's referring to him now) for a while now since he moved into a smaller apartment in downtown Bellevue. He's a snuggler and loves to see me everytime I walk in the door so it's not like this is hard work by any means. Plus he forces me to go for walks so it's good excercise for both of us.
20 August, 2008
sun
We were in Steamboat Island for Nathan's friend's wedding this weekend. The sun was setting right over the ocean...I can't wait to live on the ocean. 10 months from San Diego!
I'm back to reality after vacation and can't help but wish I was on vacation forever...really not even vacation, just in the same city as Nathan would work for now! 10 months again...
My little brother is in town and needs a ride to the airport for his 6:50am flight so it's off to bed. I'm not too happy about getting up that early and then working...but such is life. The things I do!
12 August, 2008
planted
I decided I will never be a plant person. I will never let plants control my life. In the past week I have witnessed 3 women in my life who have freaked out about leaving their plants without water and were beyond devastated to find they were starting to die when they left town. I just can't be held back by something like a plant. My roommate wanted to come all the way home just to water them while I was gone for 2 weeks. My mom shouted, "Oh NO!" like my brother had just died when she looked out the window to find her tomatoes keeling over...I don't understand!
Granted I do not have a green thumb or anything close to it and actually am pretty proud of myself for keeping a plant alive for 11, going on 12 months...But if it died? I wouldn't mind. It's huge and it was expensive but really...I think there are other things that would pain me more than the death of my spider tree or whatever it's called. I think my mom may be a bit disappointed to know I can't bear to follow in her gardening footsteps but right now I just...can't bring myself to do it!
In other news I turn 24 tomorrow. Life hasn't followed the path I thought it would but I'm pretty happy with how it has gone so far. I'm sad no one makes a big deal about birthdays though. Somewhere around age 12 birthdays become less and less of an event and more of an obligation. I love birthdays so I hope my kids don't mind my going all out for them. Barbie-themed party when you're 21? Mom will do it! Ninja Turtles and a bounce room for your 18th birthday, no problem! I want to go out to dinner tomorrow at least but I'm not sure I can convince anyone to leave the lake to drive into town for that. If not I will settle for a bbq as long as my mom will make me a cake. A balloon or two would be nice too. ;)
Granted I do not have a green thumb or anything close to it and actually am pretty proud of myself for keeping a plant alive for 11, going on 12 months...But if it died? I wouldn't mind. It's huge and it was expensive but really...I think there are other things that would pain me more than the death of my spider tree or whatever it's called. I think my mom may be a bit disappointed to know I can't bear to follow in her gardening footsteps but right now I just...can't bring myself to do it!
In other news I turn 24 tomorrow. Life hasn't followed the path I thought it would but I'm pretty happy with how it has gone so far. I'm sad no one makes a big deal about birthdays though. Somewhere around age 12 birthdays become less and less of an event and more of an obligation. I love birthdays so I hope my kids don't mind my going all out for them. Barbie-themed party when you're 21? Mom will do it! Ninja Turtles and a bounce room for your 18th birthday, no problem! I want to go out to dinner tomorrow at least but I'm not sure I can convince anyone to leave the lake to drive into town for that. If not I will settle for a bbq as long as my mom will make me a cake. A balloon or two would be nice too. ;)
31 July, 2008
wish you were here
Well it's been like ten years since I've updated this thing. It's summer time and I'm taking one class online where I do just enough to get by because I hate summer classes and I'm a very bad procrastinator when the deadline is so far away. But we already knew that.
Nathan and I are pretty confident we will be moving to San Diego next year. Probably right after my graduation in June. We decided we'd like an adventure, go somewhere we've never lived, stay for a few years, live on the beach, experience a different life...see how we like it. Who knows what it will bring. It's not exactly a cheap place to live and I'd like to own a house within the next 5 years so we'll see how good we are at saving while we're there. If we love it we'll buy a house, if we experience enough of it in 3 years we'll leave and settle somewhere else. Right now we're young enough to pick up and go and try it out. We don't have kids and even if we did they wouldn't be old enough to have to move to a new school or anything. I'm excited. I'm nervous because San Diego and Kalispell Montana and basically polar opposites...But I think I could do it.
Nathan is pretty deadset on living as close to the beach as possible. Rent is about $1500 for a one bedroom place in this kind of location so we'll probably squeeze ourselves into something small for a little while. We'll have good jobs though too. He'll be able to work from home with Expedia and I've already researched social work jobs in San Diego. No problemo. Especially if I can get going on my Spanish fluency.
I can only imagine how wonderful sunshine will feel and how happy I will be to wake up with the option of taking a morning walk on the beach. I know San Diego has its downfalls too but right now we're up for whatever.
Tomorrow we're heading to Montana for two weeks to spend some time at the lake. Nathan will be working from there but it's still vacation when your "work" involves sitting on the dock, sipping a margarita and jumping in whenever you start to get hot. Oh and every so often looking back at the computer to make sure the Expedia website is running okay...I think he'll enjoy the "vacation" just as much as I will. I will be attending Morgan's 1st birthday party and snuggling his cheeks up to get my baby fix (and hold off my urges for a couple more years), going to the dentist, the eye doctor, finishing my summer class and working on my tan most importantly...oh and hopefully learning to slalom ski, that's my summer goal. I hope the good weather holds out. It usually stays nice right up until my birthday on August 13 (Oh yeah I guess I'll be turning 24 while I'm there too). We are visiting Nathan's dad on Flathead Lake for a couple days as well and of course spending time with family. It'll be good.
Speaking of Morgan, I need to go to WalMart- Jessie realized the WalMart here has way better baby food then the one in Kalispell so I need to come home with the goods.
Nathan and I are pretty confident we will be moving to San Diego next year. Probably right after my graduation in June. We decided we'd like an adventure, go somewhere we've never lived, stay for a few years, live on the beach, experience a different life...see how we like it. Who knows what it will bring. It's not exactly a cheap place to live and I'd like to own a house within the next 5 years so we'll see how good we are at saving while we're there. If we love it we'll buy a house, if we experience enough of it in 3 years we'll leave and settle somewhere else. Right now we're young enough to pick up and go and try it out. We don't have kids and even if we did they wouldn't be old enough to have to move to a new school or anything. I'm excited. I'm nervous because San Diego and Kalispell Montana and basically polar opposites...But I think I could do it.
Nathan is pretty deadset on living as close to the beach as possible. Rent is about $1500 for a one bedroom place in this kind of location so we'll probably squeeze ourselves into something small for a little while. We'll have good jobs though too. He'll be able to work from home with Expedia and I've already researched social work jobs in San Diego. No problemo. Especially if I can get going on my Spanish fluency.
I can only imagine how wonderful sunshine will feel and how happy I will be to wake up with the option of taking a morning walk on the beach. I know San Diego has its downfalls too but right now we're up for whatever.
Tomorrow we're heading to Montana for two weeks to spend some time at the lake. Nathan will be working from there but it's still vacation when your "work" involves sitting on the dock, sipping a margarita and jumping in whenever you start to get hot. Oh and every so often looking back at the computer to make sure the Expedia website is running okay...I think he'll enjoy the "vacation" just as much as I will. I will be attending Morgan's 1st birthday party and snuggling his cheeks up to get my baby fix (and hold off my urges for a couple more years), going to the dentist, the eye doctor, finishing my summer class and working on my tan most importantly...oh and hopefully learning to slalom ski, that's my summer goal. I hope the good weather holds out. It usually stays nice right up until my birthday on August 13 (Oh yeah I guess I'll be turning 24 while I'm there too). We are visiting Nathan's dad on Flathead Lake for a couple days as well and of course spending time with family. It'll be good.
Speaking of Morgan, I need to go to WalMart- Jessie realized the WalMart here has way better baby food then the one in Kalispell so I need to come home with the goods.
11 June, 2008
Pizza
My conversation with the pizza guy:
Me: I'm just wondering how big your 10 inch is. Is it just more like a small personal size pizza?
Pizza Guy: Yeah it's small. It's a 10 inch.
KThanks.
Me: I'm just wondering how big your 10 inch is. Is it just more like a small personal size pizza?
Pizza Guy: Yeah it's small. It's a 10 inch.
KThanks.
06 April, 2008
Back to reality
I think I am being a bad updater here...Most of my updates have been in my Peru blog but now that I'm home that one will be retired...eventually. My parents apparently sent the address to all sorts of random people so I didn't even know until I got home that people had been reading it. It was really nice though because I felt like they were all there with me and thinking of me and I could really feel that on the trip. It was an amazing trip to an amazing country and I promise myself I will go back. I also am itching to keep traveling but even more to do more volunteer work through Global Volunteers. They have some trips in South Africa and Costa Rica that are catching my eye...
Nathan and I are hopefully planning a Mexican cruise in June to satisfy our travel needs. We also want to do a little mini-vaca over Memorial Day weekend since we both have it off. I need to start becoming a better money-saver so I can do all of this travel! This is quite an impossible feat when, 1) I'm a grad student and don't really make much money and 2) I am pretty bad at saving because I'm bad at waiting for things...But maybe this is a new skill I can work on.
My last quarter of this year has begun and already I am predicting it will end so quickly. I love how fast quarters zoom by. Semesters seemed to drag on. It may also mean that I actually kind of like school. I loved MSU and my program but I think my masters is even more me doing what I want to do so I love being a part of it all and seeing the final product in sight.
My youngest brother has the lead in a school play so I'm going to go home for it next week. I am excited to see him in a play as theater and making movies is what he loves to do (he wants to go school near Hollywood and make and produce films). Also, as the youngest child, he has spent a good 17 years being forced to attend every single one of my plays, concerts, presentations and other random involvements...So the least I can do is make the trek home for it. It will take 4 hours at the most to drive so I find it very worth it.
Nathan and I are hopefully planning a Mexican cruise in June to satisfy our travel needs. We also want to do a little mini-vaca over Memorial Day weekend since we both have it off. I need to start becoming a better money-saver so I can do all of this travel! This is quite an impossible feat when, 1) I'm a grad student and don't really make much money and 2) I am pretty bad at saving because I'm bad at waiting for things...But maybe this is a new skill I can work on.
My last quarter of this year has begun and already I am predicting it will end so quickly. I love how fast quarters zoom by. Semesters seemed to drag on. It may also mean that I actually kind of like school. I loved MSU and my program but I think my masters is even more me doing what I want to do so I love being a part of it all and seeing the final product in sight.
My youngest brother has the lead in a school play so I'm going to go home for it next week. I am excited to see him in a play as theater and making movies is what he loves to do (he wants to go school near Hollywood and make and produce films). Also, as the youngest child, he has spent a good 17 years being forced to attend every single one of my plays, concerts, presentations and other random involvements...So the least I can do is make the trek home for it. It will take 4 hours at the most to drive so I find it very worth it.
26 March, 2008
Not Sick
Lots of people in our group are starting to get sick so think good thoughts for my stomach of steel...So far I feel fine. I notice when I am getting dehydrated but nothing as drastic as what other people are experiencing. Ive been very cautious about what I eat and drink so I think I can hold out two more days. Knock on Peruvian wood! I have a sunburn which I am now learning I would gladly take over the SNOW in Washington. Yuck. Definitely not what I want to come back to!
We ate at a restaurant called Beer Chicken for dinner tonight. They had the best rotisserre chicken I have ever had! And a bonus, we get ice cream after lunch every day here. You know that means I am basically in heaven. I could do this every day for sure...
We ate at a restaurant called Beer Chicken for dinner tonight. They had the best rotisserre chicken I have ever had! And a bonus, we get ice cream after lunch every day here. You know that means I am basically in heaven. I could do this every day for sure...
22 March, 2008
Up and at 'em
It's 3:40am and I am up and ready! I think I got about five hours of sleep last night so I don't feel to terrible. I wished for my dad and boyfriend's magical powers of being able to fall asleep in 2 minutes or less but unfortuantely I just can't do it. I'm a lay there for 30 minutes kind of sleeper and it sure gets in the way!
I am as packed as I think I can be. I have no idea what I'm missing, if anything. Hopefully nothing because I have no idea how easy it is to get things like contact solution or tampons in Peru.
Nathan insisted on coming here next weekend to greet me when I get in. He's only staying one night and then heading back to make a Sonics game. I think it's crazy for him to come all the way here but he says he can't wait that long to hear about my trip....What a sweet boy I have. As much of a hard time as I've give him about coming, of course I am overjoyed to get to have him there to welcome me home.
So I guess this is it! I'm going to dry my hair, pack everything in and head to the airport...Peru, here I come!
I am as packed as I think I can be. I have no idea what I'm missing, if anything. Hopefully nothing because I have no idea how easy it is to get things like contact solution or tampons in Peru.
Nathan insisted on coming here next weekend to greet me when I get in. He's only staying one night and then heading back to make a Sonics game. I think it's crazy for him to come all the way here but he says he can't wait that long to hear about my trip....What a sweet boy I have. As much of a hard time as I've give him about coming, of course I am overjoyed to get to have him there to welcome me home.
So I guess this is it! I'm going to dry my hair, pack everything in and head to the airport...Peru, here I come!
20 March, 2008
Leaving Soon
I shopped my head off while I was visiting Nathan this weekend. Hi my name is Ashley and I am a shopaholic. Besides the shopping, the visit was wonderful. I got to stay almost a week...Ahhh...heaven. I am the luckiest girl. :)
I'm leaving for Peru in 34 hours! I've still got a lot of packing to do. Right now the laundry is going so I'm on a break between the washing and the putting in the suitcase stages. I have written and rewritten numerous packing lists and I'm still sure I am forgetting something.
I had my practicum interview the other day. It was quite a bit better than I'd anticipated. My title would be "case manager" and I would do mostly financial counseling with low income and homeless clients. They have a lot of resources to help people with bad/no credit get bank accounts and loans and whatnots so I'd get to give those out. I would also be a part of the education classes, the coalitions and really anything else I was interested in in the financial side of the low income/homeless population. I could make my own schedule and choose when I'd be there and when I'd see clients. I think I would definitely enjoy it. While I am longing to have kids included in my practicum, I also think this experience is a necessary one and I need all the experience I can get so really, I should start wherever I can. I also called the main place I wanted to be, Shriner's Children's Hospital and found out they don't do internships for social work students, only two other degrees I can remember...So with that one ruled out, I can easily think about others. Plus they could still use me as a volunteer there which I'd love to do. AND I am finding that medical social work with kids just apparently isn't going to happen while I'm at EWU because the School of Social Work does not have any contacts with those places and therefore we're not allowed to be placed there.
So...we'll see! They were supposed to call early this week and haven't so tomorrow I'll call and see what's going on with it all.
All I want to do is eat right now...
I'm leaving for Peru in 34 hours! I've still got a lot of packing to do. Right now the laundry is going so I'm on a break between the washing and the putting in the suitcase stages. I have written and rewritten numerous packing lists and I'm still sure I am forgetting something.
I had my practicum interview the other day. It was quite a bit better than I'd anticipated. My title would be "case manager" and I would do mostly financial counseling with low income and homeless clients. They have a lot of resources to help people with bad/no credit get bank accounts and loans and whatnots so I'd get to give those out. I would also be a part of the education classes, the coalitions and really anything else I was interested in in the financial side of the low income/homeless population. I could make my own schedule and choose when I'd be there and when I'd see clients. I think I would definitely enjoy it. While I am longing to have kids included in my practicum, I also think this experience is a necessary one and I need all the experience I can get so really, I should start wherever I can. I also called the main place I wanted to be, Shriner's Children's Hospital and found out they don't do internships for social work students, only two other degrees I can remember...So with that one ruled out, I can easily think about others. Plus they could still use me as a volunteer there which I'd love to do. AND I am finding that medical social work with kids just apparently isn't going to happen while I'm at EWU because the School of Social Work does not have any contacts with those places and therefore we're not allowed to be placed there.
So...we'll see! They were supposed to call early this week and haven't so tomorrow I'll call and see what's going on with it all.
All I want to do is eat right now...
18 March, 2008
07 March, 2008
8 seconds
Apparently I only write in here when I'm in Bellevue. I keep up with my other diary really so I think I'll start cutting and pasting those entries over here.
Anyway...on a much lighter note (Debbie Downer!) I rode the mechanical bull last weekend with Foley. The guy who operates the machine of course makes it shake so girls' boobs give a real nice show for the audience. Having still not gone through puburty, I gladly sat on the front where my padded bra would do no shaking. My more well-endowed friend chose the back where she spent most of the time holding the girls in:
I'm still not much of a drinker. I chose to remember most of my nights out, especially when other friends are drunk and I can tell them later what they did. I did, however, partake in a Red Headed Slut, how could I not?
I have a ton of homework to do. I probably should not have come to Bellevue but I hadn't seen Nathan in 10 days and was going through withdrawals. I'm glad I'm here and I know he'll let me get some homework finished. We will be taking a break to go skiing tomorrow though. Plus, I don't do homework on Saturdays. It's my rule. :)
Last night I had another four hour drive to Bellevue which consisted of my "girl music" up loud and my thoughts on overdrive. I think entirely too much for my own good. None of my thoughts were bad but I started thinking about graduation and how it opens all kinds of new doors but also abruptly shuts the one that revolves around Cheney, Washington and my friends here. Unfortunately, once we get our masters' we will all drift in separate directions. Some of us may keep in touch but I know we won't have random karaoke nights with the over-40 crowd or mechanical bull-riding on Friday nights or random dinners out that send us all into debt...I know what happens when people grow up and get married and have kids and start new lives...That whole "friends from high school/college" thing kind of changes.
It's funny this comes from me, the person who is literally counting down the days until spring of 2009 when I can finally be finished with school, a member of the working world, an adult. True, I can hardly wait for that to happen but the ending of it all is going to be completely bittersweet. It's a year and 3 months away so there's time to live it up and cherish the moments we have but I'm just nervous. I don't do well with endings.
Anyway...on a much lighter note (Debbie Downer!) I rode the mechanical bull last weekend with Foley. The guy who operates the machine of course makes it shake so girls' boobs give a real nice show for the audience. Having still not gone through puburty, I gladly sat on the front where my padded bra would do no shaking. My more well-endowed friend chose the back where she spent most of the time holding the girls in:
I'm still not much of a drinker. I chose to remember most of my nights out, especially when other friends are drunk and I can tell them later what they did. I did, however, partake in a Red Headed Slut, how could I not?
Jolene, Me, Foley, Brenden
I have a ton of homework to do. I probably should not have come to Bellevue but I hadn't seen Nathan in 10 days and was going through withdrawals. I'm glad I'm here and I know he'll let me get some homework finished. We will be taking a break to go skiing tomorrow though. Plus, I don't do homework on Saturdays. It's my rule. :)
22 February, 2008
Lucky
Do you ever have those moments where you just realize, Wow, I am so lucky...? I had that last night.
Nathan convinced me to come back over to Bellevue this weekend and I decided to drive instead of fly. There are moments every so often when I just want to climb into the car, turn up the music and drive...not worrying about anything but the open road and the thoughts on my mind. I had 4 good hours of thinking last night and it just felt good for my soul.
Life is good right now. I am in grad school, in a state I adore, pursuing a career in the thing I love more than anything in the world. I have some really great friends, an incredibly supportive and wonderful family, a boyfriend who is truly my best friend and and all around really great life. I think I sometimes fail to realize how great things really are and be thankful for all that I have. I haven't always been able to think about every aspect of my life and be at peace with it. There always seems to be some little thing in the back of my mind that makes me a little uneasy. But right now I truly cannot think of anything that fits that right now and the feeling of just loving life is such an overwhelmingly wonderful emotion.
I registered for classes for next quarter the other day...I have a 12 hour class day on Mondays and that is it. I suppose it's nice to get it all out of the way but I am pretty sure I will die of either boredom or a butt that falls asleep from sitting so long. I plan to pack many snacks and go to sleep at about 8:00pm the night before so I can make it from 8:00am-10:00pm. The one thing about grad school is that most classes are only a couple days a week so they get to be really long days. I have an 8 hour Monday right now and then 4 hour Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I think I'm getting used to it, as I should since it'll be this way until June 2009!
Nathan is at work so I have plans to be a little lazy until we go have lunch together and then maybe hit up a few stores, recycle some newspaper, take the dog for a walk and maybe get a head start on some homework. I'm in the city so I could easily do some hardcore shopping...But I'll hold back. A little.
Nathan convinced me to come back over to Bellevue this weekend and I decided to drive instead of fly. There are moments every so often when I just want to climb into the car, turn up the music and drive...not worrying about anything but the open road and the thoughts on my mind. I had 4 good hours of thinking last night and it just felt good for my soul.
Life is good right now. I am in grad school, in a state I adore, pursuing a career in the thing I love more than anything in the world. I have some really great friends, an incredibly supportive and wonderful family, a boyfriend who is truly my best friend and and all around really great life. I think I sometimes fail to realize how great things really are and be thankful for all that I have. I haven't always been able to think about every aspect of my life and be at peace with it. There always seems to be some little thing in the back of my mind that makes me a little uneasy. But right now I truly cannot think of anything that fits that right now and the feeling of just loving life is such an overwhelmingly wonderful emotion.
I registered for classes for next quarter the other day...I have a 12 hour class day on Mondays and that is it. I suppose it's nice to get it all out of the way but I am pretty sure I will die of either boredom or a butt that falls asleep from sitting so long. I plan to pack many snacks and go to sleep at about 8:00pm the night before so I can make it from 8:00am-10:00pm. The one thing about grad school is that most classes are only a couple days a week so they get to be really long days. I have an 8 hour Monday right now and then 4 hour Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I think I'm getting used to it, as I should since it'll be this way until June 2009!
Nathan is at work so I have plans to be a little lazy until we go have lunch together and then maybe hit up a few stores, recycle some newspaper, take the dog for a walk and maybe get a head start on some homework. I'm in the city so I could easily do some hardcore shopping...But I'll hold back. A little.
18 February, 2008
Procrastination is still my middle name
Life has involved some intense procrastinating lately. I haven't reached a point of it being a problem but I keep pushing it all right up to the last minute. And really all I'm talking about is homework. I tend to get everything else finished on time, it's just homework. And I can safely say it is mostly all due to boredom. I am fairly unmotivated to do anything early when it nearly puts me to sleep. The good part is I am less than a month away from finishing this quarter which I do believe will be the most boring one I have in all of my 6 quarters at Eastern...So there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel, it just requires me to keep walking until I reach that point. Just keep swimming.
Nathan and I spent the weekend in Vancouver, B.C. where we enjoyed a fancy hotel, people watching, shopping, good food, room service and each other. We really could go anywhere and a have a good time but this little vacation was definitely a good one. I wish we could have stayed for a week. He also made a special stop at the outlet mall for me where I all but drooled all over each item of clothing in J. Crew. I could easily make a weekend out of that mall so I spared him the boredom and only went to a couple stores. I have plans to head back with a few girlfriends as soon as possible. The shopping bug has bit me very badly with the approach of spring and the possibility of finally wearing brighter colors and less sweaters. I can't wait.
Is it bad that my life revolves so much around shopping? Clearly I didn't choose social work for the money but I may need to be sure I can make it work with my spending habits!
Nathan and I spent the weekend in Vancouver, B.C. where we enjoyed a fancy hotel, people watching, shopping, good food, room service and each other. We really could go anywhere and a have a good time but this little vacation was definitely a good one. I wish we could have stayed for a week. He also made a special stop at the outlet mall for me where I all but drooled all over each item of clothing in J. Crew. I could easily make a weekend out of that mall so I spared him the boredom and only went to a couple stores. I have plans to head back with a few girlfriends as soon as possible. The shopping bug has bit me very badly with the approach of spring and the possibility of finally wearing brighter colors and less sweaters. I can't wait.
Is it bad that my life revolves so much around shopping? Clearly I didn't choose social work for the money but I may need to be sure I can make it work with my spending habits!
09 February, 2008
Saturday Morning
I have a blog elsewhere but it appears as though more and more people have made there way over here so I may give it a try. It's Saturday morning in Cheney and the snow has begun to melt. Spokane County has been a mess with endless amounts of slush one day and blowing snow the next. Everyone keeps saying this is the worst winter they've seen in a long time and that the city just wasn't prepared for the magnitude of snow that has fallen. I am amazed by the way Spokane reacts to the precipitation, it feels so normal for me. But I must understand I'm not in Montana anymore, am I Toto?
Hillary Clinton was here yesterday and so was Michelle Obama. I would have loved to see them but had other things that kept me from making it over. Jolene and Foley went though and it was entirely too busy to get in and actually see them anyway. I am going back and forth on who to pick. I am truly inspired by Barack Obama and everytime he speaks I dream of change. But then I see Hillary and I can't help but just feel proud. I will be truly happy if either of them becomes our next president and would be overjoyed if they were together as president and vice president...
I'm 42 days from my trip to Peru. I hope to blog while I'm there but I am told high speed internet has not yet made its way into the country and our hotel only has dial-up with a lack of wireless connections, so we'll see. I am going to be there for 8 days working at an orphanage as part of my International Social Work class. We've been warned that this will most likely be a life changing experience, one that makes it hard to leave. I am extremely excited to be taken from my comfort zone and pushed to help others. I'm not quite sure how I plan to come back without bringing a few Peruvian babies with me. If international adoption wasn't such a long process you know I wouldn't be able to say no.
Life is good. This quarter is extremely boring but with all the holidays and snow days it's going by incredibly fast. Frequent trips to Bellevue to visit Nathan have also helped to break up the long weeks so I can't complain. We start our practicum in April and I think that's when the fun will really begin. I haven't been placed yet but it sounds like I will be working at a place called SNAP which stands for Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs. I prefer to just say "Ah, snap!" It's basically a program that provides a range of services to low income and homeless families in Spokane County. I also would love something like St. Jude's or Shriner's or Ronald McDonald house but it's looking like those might not be possibilities until after graduation. We shall see. All I know is I am itching to get into the field and start helping people.
Nathan and I are dreaming of a summer at the lake this year. If he could talk Expedia into letting him work from home for a few months it would be completely feasible. Both our families have cabins there so not only would there be room for us but we could also spend time with them. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to work all day and then come home to the lake where we could swim whenever we wanted, barbeque every night, fall asleep under the stars, roast marshmallows at the campfire, entertain Washington friends with some true Montana hospitality and just enjoy each other's company under the Big Sky. I am crossing my fingers that it will be possible.
Hillary Clinton was here yesterday and so was Michelle Obama. I would have loved to see them but had other things that kept me from making it over. Jolene and Foley went though and it was entirely too busy to get in and actually see them anyway. I am going back and forth on who to pick. I am truly inspired by Barack Obama and everytime he speaks I dream of change. But then I see Hillary and I can't help but just feel proud. I will be truly happy if either of them becomes our next president and would be overjoyed if they were together as president and vice president...
I'm 42 days from my trip to Peru. I hope to blog while I'm there but I am told high speed internet has not yet made its way into the country and our hotel only has dial-up with a lack of wireless connections, so we'll see. I am going to be there for 8 days working at an orphanage as part of my International Social Work class. We've been warned that this will most likely be a life changing experience, one that makes it hard to leave. I am extremely excited to be taken from my comfort zone and pushed to help others. I'm not quite sure how I plan to come back without bringing a few Peruvian babies with me. If international adoption wasn't such a long process you know I wouldn't be able to say no.
Life is good. This quarter is extremely boring but with all the holidays and snow days it's going by incredibly fast. Frequent trips to Bellevue to visit Nathan have also helped to break up the long weeks so I can't complain. We start our practicum in April and I think that's when the fun will really begin. I haven't been placed yet but it sounds like I will be working at a place called SNAP which stands for Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs. I prefer to just say "Ah, snap!" It's basically a program that provides a range of services to low income and homeless families in Spokane County. I also would love something like St. Jude's or Shriner's or Ronald McDonald house but it's looking like those might not be possibilities until after graduation. We shall see. All I know is I am itching to get into the field and start helping people.
Nathan and I are dreaming of a summer at the lake this year. If he could talk Expedia into letting him work from home for a few months it would be completely feasible. Both our families have cabins there so not only would there be room for us but we could also spend time with them. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to work all day and then come home to the lake where we could swim whenever we wanted, barbeque every night, fall asleep under the stars, roast marshmallows at the campfire, entertain Washington friends with some true Montana hospitality and just enjoy each other's company under the Big Sky. I am crossing my fingers that it will be possible.
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