I have a tension headache. I really do love the holidays, but where did the rest of 2010 go? I am currently taking a break from filling out my bar application. Again. And, oh yeah, I am late. Did you know that the filing deadline was October 30th in Texas? I called and begged/argued/pleaded with SOMEONE, who could only suggest that I send in a late application with a very compelling letter regarding why I am late. By November 29th. Of course, THEY don't review the applications until December 18th, and then THEY have to notify you by writing.Who are these unknown people that hold the next 6 months of my life in their hands? So, I am just going to keep on studying and hope for the best. I think I have some good reasons up my sleeve, but I need to express them in a way that is more than, "Please let me practice law. I have been working at a pizza place in Missouri."
Aside from that, we are preparing for my first Italian Thanksgiving. On Wednesday, we will fly to Hilton Head, SC to celebrate with Mike's family. From what I understand of this very non French Canadian/English tradition is that we begin eating Aunt Gimo's soup at noon. Every hour we have another Italian dish. Antipasta, ensalata, manigotte (not sure what that is), then the pasta and the Secret Sicilian sauce. And then....a fried turkey...and dressing...and everything else. (I'm contributing a pie...I just didn't feel comfortable offering up green bean casserole.) I may just pack sweat pants because there is no way I will be fitting into anything I own after that meal! Mike's mother told me to pack a bathing suit - ha!
Do you ever have that feeling that everything will be fine, "just as soon as you get on that plane" or "as soon as you get in the car and get on the road?" I feel like I have been the Tasmanian Devil for the past week trying to get things checked off my list. And believe me, we have no Christmas tree up, no wedding Christmas cards picked out and no other festivities to alert you that we are in the holiday mood. But - we will be. I was reading another blog this evening, noting that the author, her husband and two children had just moved to Seattle. She was extremely excited about the snow that had fallen over night.
She wrote, "I was talking to the girls about leaving their seatbelts securely fastened, because Mommy had never driven in snow before...As I cranked the car, guess what came blasting through my speakers, "Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!" It took my nerves away :), and made the drive to school feel more like a sleigh ride."
Ok, I don't know the legalities of blog stealing but I just had to post that. First of all, that song would never come on for me. There would most likely be a news report about an accident on the way to the school...I know, I feel a little like Scrooge, but I wanted to tell her, "If you think this is fun, just wait until February." I have NEVER felt like I was in a sleigh ride in my 2000 Pathfinder whether there was snow on the ground or not. (Actually, I think I told you, I didn't leave the house when there was snow on the ground for the safety of myself and all my fellow Missourians.) Regardless, what I took away from that is - are people really that happy all the time? Why am I so tired and not looking at things more positively? I drink a LOT of coffee!
I have a lot of very positive friends, and I know it is a manner of thinking. Mike thinks that I like to create drama to get worked up about. Maybe. Either way, as I said in my last post, I know I have a lot to be thankful for. And when the time comes, I WILL put on The Nutcracker and decorate our tree. But not until after Thanksgiving. And you WILL get your holiday card in the mail...the wedding one might not come until our 5th anniversary, but, what a fun surprise to open that up in 2015! If I can just get on that plane Wednesday.....
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Decompressing
Well, last week was a tough one. It all started last Saturday evening while Mike and I were watching the game. We left the house around 9 pm to grab some Wendy's and noticed that Mike's car was GONE. I thought he was joking and had just moved it to a different parking space, but when I turned around, he was already on the phone with the police. I couldn't believe that this happened when we were sitting on the other side of the wall!
The police came over and I think it finally hit me when were filing the police report. Of course, I started crying and asking the cop "Who steals someone's car??" And yes, we know it is ironic that Mike studies car theft. Thank goodness on Monday we got a call that the cops had found the car and it was down at the impound. I was petrified of what we would find when we actually rescued the car. Amazingly enough, nothing had been touched. I guess some kid somehow got into it (it was locked) and drove it around until he was tired of it? I think the worst part was paying $150 for us to take our OWN car home.
On a side note, Mike has been having some tooth problems. He went to see a dentist awhile ago, but they suggested so many issues that Mike kept putting it off. Finally, the pain just got to be too much. He was scheduled to see an oral surgeon Tuesday evening to have all four of his impacted wisdom teeth removed, as well as two teeth that were completely rotted out. They assured us that the procedure would only take an hour. Four hours and one pedicure later (for me), Mike stumbled out of the back. He had woken up during the operation because they did not expect him to be out that long. He was hilarious in his drugged stupor, and I was particularly proud of my husband as he asked me where the cute secretary had gone. I chose not to slap his puffy cheeks right then...:-) As he asked for the car keys, I patted myself on the back for taking them away from him before the surgery, knowing he would think he was fine.
Mike's parents had gotten in from Mexico that evening and met us at the house with Frostys for Mike to eat and some ice packs. I opened the wine. They left the next morning, leaving me with a very grumpy husband, chicken soup cooking, some Lortab and specific instructions from the dentist for steroids and anti-biotics. Poor Mike was still up until 5:30 this morning in pain.
So, I took care of Mike Wednesday and headed back to work Thursday. Ha, oh yeah. I couldn't find Mike's wallet Wednesday and after going back to the dentist and the pedicure place while he slept, I canceled his debit card. When he woke up, he grabbed his wallet out of his pant's pocket. Oops. :-)
When I came home from work Friday, all I wanted to do was sleep. I got in the bed and slept for about 15 hours. I don't think I realized how exhausted we both were until we got a minute to sit. And so, life starts again tomorrow. Mike has to head to San Francisco on Tuesday for a criminology conference (I know) and then we are going to Hilton Head for my first Thanksgiving away from home. Lots of changes over the past few months and I still can't figure out where the year has gone!
Looking back, I just have to think about how thankful I am that my family is healthy and happy, and know that this week could have been much worse....HOWEVER, I think we are good with dramatic events for just a little while. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!! PS- Roll Tide
The police came over and I think it finally hit me when were filing the police report. Of course, I started crying and asking the cop "Who steals someone's car??" And yes, we know it is ironic that Mike studies car theft. Thank goodness on Monday we got a call that the cops had found the car and it was down at the impound. I was petrified of what we would find when we actually rescued the car. Amazingly enough, nothing had been touched. I guess some kid somehow got into it (it was locked) and drove it around until he was tired of it? I think the worst part was paying $150 for us to take our OWN car home.
On a side note, Mike has been having some tooth problems. He went to see a dentist awhile ago, but they suggested so many issues that Mike kept putting it off. Finally, the pain just got to be too much. He was scheduled to see an oral surgeon Tuesday evening to have all four of his impacted wisdom teeth removed, as well as two teeth that were completely rotted out. They assured us that the procedure would only take an hour. Four hours and one pedicure later (for me), Mike stumbled out of the back. He had woken up during the operation because they did not expect him to be out that long. He was hilarious in his drugged stupor, and I was particularly proud of my husband as he asked me where the cute secretary had gone. I chose not to slap his puffy cheeks right then...:-) As he asked for the car keys, I patted myself on the back for taking them away from him before the surgery, knowing he would think he was fine.
Mike's parents had gotten in from Mexico that evening and met us at the house with Frostys for Mike to eat and some ice packs. I opened the wine. They left the next morning, leaving me with a very grumpy husband, chicken soup cooking, some Lortab and specific instructions from the dentist for steroids and anti-biotics. Poor Mike was still up until 5:30 this morning in pain.
So, I took care of Mike Wednesday and headed back to work Thursday. Ha, oh yeah. I couldn't find Mike's wallet Wednesday and after going back to the dentist and the pedicure place while he slept, I canceled his debit card. When he woke up, he grabbed his wallet out of his pant's pocket. Oops. :-)
When I came home from work Friday, all I wanted to do was sleep. I got in the bed and slept for about 15 hours. I don't think I realized how exhausted we both were until we got a minute to sit. And so, life starts again tomorrow. Mike has to head to San Francisco on Tuesday for a criminology conference (I know) and then we are going to Hilton Head for my first Thanksgiving away from home. Lots of changes over the past few months and I still can't figure out where the year has gone!
Looking back, I just have to think about how thankful I am that my family is healthy and happy, and know that this week could have been much worse....HOWEVER, I think we are good with dramatic events for just a little while. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!! PS- Roll Tide
Friday, November 5, 2010
Left Behind
When I was in high school, I was on the dance team. Mike makes constant fun of me and always tells me that he believes I was a huge dork in high school. I insist to him that making good grades and not partaking in drugs and alcohol WAS actually cool in my high school, but he doesn't believe. Mike also does not believe that the dance team was cool. Apparently, he went to a high school where sex and drugs and rock and roll were cool. At my school, I swear, I was awesome.
But arguing my coolness is beside the point. The point is to tell you about our trip to Ireland and how I got stranded in the London airport while 250 people flew safely across the Atlantic back to Homewood, AL. In 1997, tragedy struck. My dance team was preparing to go to dance camp (that really doesn't sound cool) and we were practicing our routine. As I launched myself into the the best toe touch ever, I came down and fell to the floor. As I tried to get up, I realized that my leg was not supporting me anymore. Panic. People were dancing around me and techno music was playing and I couldn't move. I crawled over the wall and someone called my mom. We found out that afternoon that I had torn my ACL.
If you know anything about football or soccer, you have probably heard of this injury. Not so much if you are on the DANCE TEAM. But, we scheduled my surgery and for six weeks I was in physical therapy and walking around with this ridiculously huge brace on my leg. The plus side was that I got to leave class five minutes early so that people would not knock me down during the changing of classes. (That also does not sound cool. I promise that people were not intentionally trying to knock me down.)
Alright, that is the background. Now, each year, the dance team (who is affiliated with the band) gets to go on a trip. There is always one international trip in the term that you are in school, and our trip was to Ireland. Of course, this trip fell during the time I was still wearing my awesome leg brace. I watched for months as my friends prepared for the trip, and was actually interviewed by the news during one of the practices about how I felt not being able to perform on the trip. Interestingly, that piece never aired...
Once the time came, we boarded the plane and headed for Ireland. After at least a week there, everyone was ready to come home. Yes, the scenery there is gorgeous, and I would love to go back, but in a different setting. When you are stuck on a bus, sightseeing what other people have planned for you, things get a little sticky. We got to kiss the Blarney Stone and explore old castles (remember, I am still in my leg brace) but after seven days of eating green soup, everyone was missing their mommas. It was time to go. We boarded a plane from Dublin and made our first stop in London.
Another one of the girls on the dance team had also injured herself, and someone decided the best thing would be for us to get on one of those beep beep carts for the elderly so we wouldn't miss our plane. 15 minutes later, I watched as the plane took off with all my friends in it. With as many people that were on the plane, everyone thought I was there, somewhere, and didn't recognize that I was still sitting in the airport. Thank goodness our dance teacher's husband realized what was going on and decided to stay with us. Apparently, DELTA had given up our seats because we did not check in in time.
Receiving a collect call from their sobbing, oldest daughter in London was not what my parents were expecting when they picked up the phone. While he held it together, I think my dad was just as upset as I was. DELTA ended up paying for a night in a not so awesome hotel, and the next day, my teacher's husband and the two cripples arrived very early at the airpot. We made it home and my best friend said, "There were so many people on the plane, we all just figured you were talking to someone else." None of the students knew that we had missed the flight until their parents told them when they landed in Birmingham. This does not make me feel confident in my sparkling personality.
Looking back on this experience, all I have is a distain for London. This was not London's fault, but I was so ready to be home. My knee is better, and I was able to dance again my senior year. I guess the sacrifice of being stuck in London was all just a price to pay for being cool.
But arguing my coolness is beside the point. The point is to tell you about our trip to Ireland and how I got stranded in the London airport while 250 people flew safely across the Atlantic back to Homewood, AL. In 1997, tragedy struck. My dance team was preparing to go to dance camp (that really doesn't sound cool) and we were practicing our routine. As I launched myself into the the best toe touch ever, I came down and fell to the floor. As I tried to get up, I realized that my leg was not supporting me anymore. Panic. People were dancing around me and techno music was playing and I couldn't move. I crawled over the wall and someone called my mom. We found out that afternoon that I had torn my ACL.
If you know anything about football or soccer, you have probably heard of this injury. Not so much if you are on the DANCE TEAM. But, we scheduled my surgery and for six weeks I was in physical therapy and walking around with this ridiculously huge brace on my leg. The plus side was that I got to leave class five minutes early so that people would not knock me down during the changing of classes. (That also does not sound cool. I promise that people were not intentionally trying to knock me down.)
Alright, that is the background. Now, each year, the dance team (who is affiliated with the band) gets to go on a trip. There is always one international trip in the term that you are in school, and our trip was to Ireland. Of course, this trip fell during the time I was still wearing my awesome leg brace. I watched for months as my friends prepared for the trip, and was actually interviewed by the news during one of the practices about how I felt not being able to perform on the trip. Interestingly, that piece never aired...
Once the time came, we boarded the plane and headed for Ireland. After at least a week there, everyone was ready to come home. Yes, the scenery there is gorgeous, and I would love to go back, but in a different setting. When you are stuck on a bus, sightseeing what other people have planned for you, things get a little sticky. We got to kiss the Blarney Stone and explore old castles (remember, I am still in my leg brace) but after seven days of eating green soup, everyone was missing their mommas. It was time to go. We boarded a plane from Dublin and made our first stop in London.
Another one of the girls on the dance team had also injured herself, and someone decided the best thing would be for us to get on one of those beep beep carts for the elderly so we wouldn't miss our plane. 15 minutes later, I watched as the plane took off with all my friends in it. With as many people that were on the plane, everyone thought I was there, somewhere, and didn't recognize that I was still sitting in the airport. Thank goodness our dance teacher's husband realized what was going on and decided to stay with us. Apparently, DELTA had given up our seats because we did not check in in time.
Receiving a collect call from their sobbing, oldest daughter in London was not what my parents were expecting when they picked up the phone. While he held it together, I think my dad was just as upset as I was. DELTA ended up paying for a night in a not so awesome hotel, and the next day, my teacher's husband and the two cripples arrived very early at the airpot. We made it home and my best friend said, "There were so many people on the plane, we all just figured you were talking to someone else." None of the students knew that we had missed the flight until their parents told them when they landed in Birmingham. This does not make me feel confident in my sparkling personality.
Looking back on this experience, all I have is a distain for London. This was not London's fault, but I was so ready to be home. My knee is better, and I was able to dance again my senior year. I guess the sacrifice of being stuck in London was all just a price to pay for being cool.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Life Kinda Got in the Way
Sorry guys - we have been busy! I checked to see when the last time I had written was, and felt so horrible. The problem is, nothing majorly exciting has been going on - we are just busy! Thank the Lord, we are making friends here, and that makes our Saturday nights just a little more exciting. We celebrated a friend's 30th Birthday with her by going to a Haunted House and then cruising in a limo until 2:00 am. I have said it once, and I will say it again - recovering from the celebration of turning 21 and the celebration of turning 30 are two completely different things. Mike and I had a nice day of lounging that Sunday after. However, we met some wonderful new people and planned to hang out with them more the next weekend at a Halloween party.
This past Wednesday Mike's parents came in town. They were on their way to Puerta Vierta (so lucky) and stopped in for a visit. Mike's mother and I hit the town on Friday night as cowgirls to celebrate one of her friend's b'days. We had a blast and I was all excited about our Saturday night Halloween plans. Instead, Mike decided to get sick and we stayed home. It probably ended up working out for the best because I am studying for the (wait for it) BAR again. I know. What is wrong with me. However, I found a different program here that starts 2 months earlier than the other program I used, and seems to be more tailored to people that have test anxiety like me, or just take a little longer to grasp the concepts. So, we are now on a countdown to the end of February!
Work is going well, and I still have a lot to do, which is exciting. One of my friends (yes, you Rachel) made the point that since I am clerking, I may have even more motivation to study for the Bar because I am so happy doing a small piece of what I could be doing. I thought it was some good advice, and I am looking at this as a new challenge.
Aside from that, we are just living life. No, the garage is not clean, and no the dishes aren't always done, but we are really happy. I got upset the other day when I was attempting to make a budget and exclaimed, "Mike, we are so poor!!" He looked at me and said, "I know Jenny, but at least we are happy." Sweet thing. Made my night.
So, that's what we've been up to! Oh - also, I am new Mad Men fanatic. I have rented it from Netflix starting from the beginning. If you are not watching this show - you need to. I will try to write more often - just don't want to bore y'all!
This past Wednesday Mike's parents came in town. They were on their way to Puerta Vierta (so lucky) and stopped in for a visit. Mike's mother and I hit the town on Friday night as cowgirls to celebrate one of her friend's b'days. We had a blast and I was all excited about our Saturday night Halloween plans. Instead, Mike decided to get sick and we stayed home. It probably ended up working out for the best because I am studying for the (wait for it) BAR again. I know. What is wrong with me. However, I found a different program here that starts 2 months earlier than the other program I used, and seems to be more tailored to people that have test anxiety like me, or just take a little longer to grasp the concepts. So, we are now on a countdown to the end of February!
Work is going well, and I still have a lot to do, which is exciting. One of my friends (yes, you Rachel) made the point that since I am clerking, I may have even more motivation to study for the Bar because I am so happy doing a small piece of what I could be doing. I thought it was some good advice, and I am looking at this as a new challenge.
Aside from that, we are just living life. No, the garage is not clean, and no the dishes aren't always done, but we are really happy. I got upset the other day when I was attempting to make a budget and exclaimed, "Mike, we are so poor!!" He looked at me and said, "I know Jenny, but at least we are happy." Sweet thing. Made my night.
So, that's what we've been up to! Oh - also, I am new Mad Men fanatic. I have rented it from Netflix starting from the beginning. If you are not watching this show - you need to. I will try to write more often - just don't want to bore y'all!
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