Transitions

So, yesterday was my first day at my new job. Has anyone ever had a good "first day"? On a scale of 1-10, 10 being really bad, I give my first day about a 6. So, it really wasn't that bad, but it really wasn't that good either. So I walk in the office right at 8:01 and everyone is already huddled around having a meeting. The best part about the whole thing is that I already know everyone in the office. Every one but 2 guys used to work with me at the old company. They all left about a year/year and a half ago to come to this company. It's a much smaller office. I am the 12th person on staff. The old place there were about 300 when business was real high, but in the last few years we've been about 80-100 people. Anyways, a lot more than 12! So as soon as I get there, they ask me to join the huddle and my cell phone beeps. The battery is going dead. Crap. So I of course explain what the beeping was and apologize for the interuption. Then they go into this big speech about cell phones and how if you have one you better keep it on vibrate and how Su, the big boss hates them and if she hears it in her office she'll come out and tell you you better turn it off. So I'm like ahh jeeze! I'm already getting in trouble! Then of course you know when you start a new job you're supposed to have 2 forms of ID...Hello! Drivers license and Social Security card. So like, when was the last time I really needed my SS card....Ummmmm I'd say 6 years ago when I started my old job. And ummmm where do you think that card is? Ummmmmmm yeah I have no idea either. CRAP. crappity crap crap. For reals, I have no idea where it is. Yeah, I'm almost 3-0 and I can't keep track of the important stuff. What the holey heck is wrong with me? So yeah, now I'm totally embarrassed again. You know everyone is going *idiot* in their heads. I mean I was, for sure. So the big boss says "you have to have either that or your birth certificate on Monday morning or I'm going to have to send you home." Well let's just say I'll be standing in line at the SS office Monday morning. Yep, I'm completely mortified. (please don't lecture me...I've heard it over and over from my husband and my mother, I already know what a loser I am, thank you very much!) The rest of the day was relatively pleasant. Everyone in the office is SUPER nice and welcoming. They even "initiated" me. The guy who sits across from me used to sit in my cubicle. So anyways, I'm emptying out my box of desk stuff and organizing my drawers. I open the top drawer and there are 2 rubber rats gazing up at me! He left them there on purpose to scare me. I guess this is what they do to all the new people. Cute. So anyways, I see the rats, don't make a sound and casually look over my cube at Antonio...."umm so are these your rats?" I say. He was laughing so hard at my casualness. He's like "you weren't even scared?!!!" Umm no, #1 I have a 3 year old boy...and #2 I used to work with all these people...I remember what they are like! This is like an everyday thing for me! So, it was good they did that. If they didn't tease me, they wouldn't like me. They're all a really good group of people and I know as soon as I figure out everything it's going to be fine. The absolute worst part of everything? The commute. Dude, it took me exactly 59 minutes to get from the parking garage to my MIL's driveway. That extra 1/2 hour of work makes a gigantic difference. Plus my new office is about 3 miles farther down than the old one. That's 3 miles of down town traffic at 5 o'clock with a stoplight every 50 feet. Big, big difference and it totally sucks. Please pray that something will change in this department for me. I would really love to have that 1/2 hour back. It really would make a world of difference.
Nothing much going on around here except for crazy tearing apart of the house looking for the SS card or the birth certificate. My Mom and her friend forever, Patty came over today. It was a nice visit. We had great weather too about 80* and a warm breeze. I also gave away all of Megans clothes she's grown out of. This was great. Girls, I had 4 bags full!!! Yeah 4. Meg is only 7 months old! (I did not buy all of these clothes. Most of them are hand-me-downs from my best friend. She has 2 little girls and one is just 6 months older than Megan) I had this huge pile of clothes behind her bedroom door because I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with it. I didn't really have anyone to give it to because I didn't know anyone who was expecting a baby. Well the girl who sits next to my mom at her office just found out she's having a girl in August. So she took everything! Megan's room looks SO clean now. I love it.
Anyways, that's about all I have to report. Hope your weekend is warm and bright!

*Circle Journal*

Ok just a quick post. I feel like I have stuff to talk about, but I'm not so much in the mood right now. Tons of stuff on my mind as I finnish out 6 years at my present job tomorrow. *sigh* Life is all about changes, right? I'm thinking of a layout in my head inspired by Miss Ali's latest Studio A article in CK about transitions. This year is a huge year of transistions for me...Starting with this new job and I already see many, many more in the near future.

Anyways so tonight I just feel like relaxing. So I'm gonna put these monkeys to bed and cuddle up with my book while I wait for Pete to get home from church...Wednesday night prayer meeting.

So here's the CJ...I'm gonna try and get it off to Jude tomorrow or Friday

It's going to be really bulky and probably won't even close by the time we're through, but that's ok!

*Music*

This is going to be sort of a different post than what I usually write about, but i've been thinking about music a lot lately so I thought I'd write a little bit about the music I like. (I'm also waisting time at my old job....I only have 3 more days....start the new one on Friday) I have a very eclectic taste in music. I like just about everything, except rap or hip hop, though some of it is ok. Anyways, what got me thinking about music was this: Have you seen the new show on ABC called October Road? It's pretty good. And it has an awesome soundtrack. It's about this guy who leaves his home town to travel Europe for 6 weeks right after high school graduation and then never comes back. Now 10 years later (present day) he comes back. I guess that's the gist of it...though of course there is more to the story. Anyways, so in the pilot episode it's mostly a flashback to 1997. The main guy is standing on his front lawn saying goodbye to his girlfriend and his buddies. It's kind of one of those defining moments...the end of an era and the start of something new. As he drives away they start playing an awesome song...Foreigner, I think. I love this band. I totally love classic rock, but I was thinking....this is supposed to be 1997, right? Not 1977? I mean, if you're doing a period show, shouldn't the music you choose go with that period? At least sort of? I graduated in 1995, so I was thinking, OK....where is the Green Day? The Counting Crows? Hootie maybe? Or what about the Red Hot Chili Peppers? Am I wrong in thinking that? Like I said, the song was awesome and it seemed to fit the mood, I just didn't think it said 1997 to me. Gawd, 1997 like wasn't THAT long ago was it? Makes me feel old to know they are doing a period show about people my age. Scary! I'm not old! Anyways, the show isn't too bad, and the ex-girlfriend is the girl that used to be Eric's girlfriend on That 70's Show. I really like her. Check it out on ABC.com The first 2 episodes are there for free.
Ok, lets talk about other music that I like right now...(i'm probably just going to start rambling now and listing off music I like. Check it out if you want, comment if you know what I'm talking about or if you have some music you think I should check out. Or whatever! feel free to read on or stop here!) I don't buy a lot of CD's. Mostly because I'm cheap. But also because I always think of something else to buy (like scrapbook stuff!) If you were to ask me what type of music I listen to, I'd probably say Country. It's on in my car about 90% of the time. But I'm a station flipper, if I find a station that is playing good music, doesn't matter what it is, if I like it I'll stick around and listen a while! In the past year or so...well maybe more... there have been some really good new country artists coming out. Taylor Swift. She's 17 years old I think. Gorgeous! plays acoustic guitar and has a beautiful voice. This girl is going to be really famous. Sugarland. Man, I love them. Every song they release is just awesome. Rascall Flatts. The Wreckers. Remember Michelle Branch? Yeah, she's gone country. She and this other girl now make up this band and they are really good. She should have been country from the start. Alan Jackson. Never thought I'd say that. I never really liked him too much. In my opinion he would have one or two good songs, and then one really crappy one. I love Midnight in Montgomery, but I hate Way down yonder on the Chattahoochi (or whatever) (i know, lots of people love that song. but i don't). But he has two really good songs out right now. Like Red on a Rose and A Woman's love. Both are so, so good! Keith Urban. Hot. He may be a drug addict/alcoholic but the guy makes awesome music. Derks Bently. He's the next Kenny Chesney. (flipping the switch now) Kelly Clarkson. I never watched the first season of American Idol. I always thought she was pop music but, I think she has more edge than just pop...I don't know what to call her. A friend sent me a copy of her latest CD. I don't even know what it's called. But it is good. I like every song on it. (how often does that happen?) Chris Daughtry. The bald rocker from last year's American Idol. He got kicked off way too early in my opinion. I liked Taylor Hicks, but I liked Chris a lot better. He's got his own band and goes by Daughtry. They do a cover of Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2. Wow, it is so good. They rock it out.
Johnny Cash. Now, I will admit I jumped on this band wagon after I saw the movie Walk the Line. (one of my favorites) I grew up listening to Country music, and I knew the typical JC songs....Folsom Prison, Ring of Fire, Cry, Cry, Cry...But after watching that movie, it was like I rediscovered him or something. Made me remember that I just love his music. Trisha Yearwood. She has always been my favorite female singer. She is soulful, blues/country. She is way more than How do I live. Check her out.
Other random thoughts of music goodness: The Eagles, Journey, Bon Jovi, Kid Rock, Alanis Morriset, Guns 'n' Roses, Poison, Warrant, Cinderella (I have that Monster Ballads of the 80's CD. LOVE IT!) Heart, Pat Benitar, Oingo Boingo, U2, Inxs, The Beatles, Marvin Gay, Chicago, Boston, Sheryl Crow, Collective Soul, Pearl Jam, Live, Motley Crue, Metalica, Styx, Stone Temple Pilots, Tori Amos, The Bangles, Whitney Houston (before the drugs got to her...or maybe before Bobby got to her), Janet Jackson-rember Controll? That was good. Madonna, Michael Jackson-but only in the 70's and 80's. Nirvana-they were my favorite in 8th grade. Who doesn't like Smells like Teen Spirit? Ben Folds. Hmmmmmm well there is so much more, but ya'll are probably getting bored now!
Kind of a weird post huh? Well that's it I guess. I just filled out my last paperwork to terminate my employment here. So I guess it's totally official now. *sigh*....of relief and sadness too.
Hope you all are having a good day. Let me know what you think of my crazy mix of music. Oh and Jude...My CJ will be coming to you soon! I'm mailing it out Friday :)

Officially

I am the slowest scrapper. I have now really come to realize this! I broke out the velum, the paint, the ink....just about everything in my stash this weekend...but, I'm still not done with my Circle Journal. *sigh!* I wish I had pictures of the 2nd mess I made...I had previously cleaned up the mess in my post below, but now there is a new and improved mess today! For some reason this project is really teaching me a lot about my style and my ART. I broke out a lot of things that I've had literally FOREVER and never used. I brought out old tools and found them to be new and exciting again. I've really had to "get creative" with my pages for the small space I chose in the 6x6. Even though I'm not done yet...I'm loving the results. Some mistakes have turned into some unexpected greatness. I got a great texture out of velum that I painted on. I got all freaky as I'm painting...all of a sudden the edges of the velum start curling up. "CRAP! what the heck!" Well after my {tiny} panic attack, I took it upstairs and decided to iron it. It turned out pretty cool. It's still wrinkly...which gives it great texture, but at least now it's flat. I'll post pictures once I'm all done. (hopefully that will be sometime this week!)
Not much else went on this weekend...I did go shopping and got some great new shoes from Gap. New shoes always make a girl happy!
*update on job situation* After thinking about it long and hard, I decided to take the new job. I'm excited and I think it's going to work out great. I think it's going to be a lot less stress so that is good. Of course though, right after I had mentally made my decision to go...I start getting all this recognition from my boss and co-workers. A few of my loan officers sent me gifts...Like I got $100 gift card to Nordstroms the other day and then today I get $300 in American Express checks from another one. I feel bad because they don't know I'm leaving yet. I haven't really told anyone except my boss. I guess I won't be getting any of these perks anymore! Hopefully there will be some new perks at the new job? I feel like I'm deceiving everyone. I told my boss that I'm going to be able to work at home...which right now is not true. Hopefully in the very near future I will be able to. But for right now, it's no. The only reason why I told him that, was because I didn't want to hear the speech that they give everyone who ever tries to leave here....you know the one..."the grass isn't always greener on the other side".... etc..etc..etc... I had already mentally made my decision...I had already done all the weighing of good points and bad points...I just didn't want anyone to try and change my mind. So I made something up that I knew they couldn't come back and say anything about. Know what I mean? But now, I have all these managers coming up to me, congratulating me and telling me how lucky I am. So now I feel really bad! I'm going to have to do a little repenting for my fib.
Well anyways, there you have it...not much going on around here!

I spy...

A circle journal. Anyone else see it? Keep looking.....Just kidding, it's not here. But this was the aftermath left after a night of creating. At least you can see a bit of table peeking through. This is only half of it. The left hand side of the table is completely covered. Anyone else feeling the pressure to show off your best work? Man, I am for sure. I didn't wanna look, but since she posted it, I just had to look at Chrissy's and OMG it's beautiful! I've already learned something in this project. Next time do a little bigger than 6x6. For some reason it's feeling a little too small for me. I've finished my cover, instruction and sign in pages. Girls, let me tell ya, the sign in page might be a little funky. I think my journal is going to be a little bulky by the time it's done but, that's OK! I've got to start working on my theme layout. Still not quite sure how I'm going to approach it. Still feeling the 6x6 might be too small for some reason. I'm just a slow scrapper I think. (thank goodness we have a whole month to complete a project!) I'm constantly moving things around, changing patterned papers...that kind of thing. It will all come together though. I'm so anxious to see everyone else's journals. I just know this is going to be a real learning experience for me and a chance to step out of my creative box.
In other news....Well, I mentioned the other day that I applied for a new job. Some of you who've been stopping by here a while know that I had major anxiety going back to work after 5 months off for maternity leave, and you also know that since going back to work, I've been pretty unhappy. Anyways an opportunity came up for me to work for another company doing the same thing, but for a lot more money. Sounds perfect right? Actually, it would even be less responsibility than what I have now...So still sounding perfect, right? Well I was all ready to accept the position, when they hit me with this: my hours would be 8:30am to 5:30pm, but no earlier than 8-5. *uggg* Right now I work from 8-4:30. See, I have almost an hour commute, so by the time I get home after picking up the kids, it's almost 6 o'clock. Then it's a race to get dinner on the table, dishes cleaned, kids in the tub and then in bed by 8. So I'm just torn right now....do I sacrifice another 1/2 hour of family time(probably more like 45 minutes because traffic is worse at 5 than at 4:30) for a few more bucks in my pocket? I just don't know. I want to take the new job because frankly, my current job just sucks and I feel like I need a change. But the thing is, what I really want, is to just be home. I almost feel like if I take a new job, then it means I'm not working towards my ultimate goal of being home. Does that make sense? Like, I guess if I take this new job then it would be like I'm pursuing a career instead of focusing on my family. But I have no plans on quiting to stay home any time soon. Technically, my husband is unemployed! I mean reality is, it's not happenin' for a while! ya know?! *sigh*....*Big sigh*...Fact is, I hate change. Change scares me to death and that's what's really holding me back on making this decision. *sigh again* I can make up a thousand excuses to stay where I am...and I can make a thousand more for going to the new job. But I just can't make a decision either way. Why is that? What's wrong with me? I guess I'm going to sleep on it again....one more night. I have to tell them tomorrow yes or no. Hopefully the answers will come in my sleep.

*Hello Spring*

Is this not the cutest little baby girl you've ever seen?! Well, she is in my opinion! She's mine, I can say that! Today was a beautiful day. Spring is definitely in the air. Tomorrow is supposed to be even nicer...maybe even 80 degrees. LOVE IT. I'm convinced that your favorite season has all to do with when your birthday is. See, I'm a summer baby and summer is my absolute favorite season. I can not wait for the warm weather. Bring on the 90* plus! Yeah, check back with me about mid way through July and see if I'm still saying that!

Had a little bit of alone time today. Well sort of. Pete took Jake pheasant hunting and they left about 6am and didn't get back until around 4. So it was just me and Meg today. Nice not to have someone to entertain all day long! I got the house all picked up and did a little spring clean up in the yard. Pulled some weeds...that kind of thing. We have one kind of devilish weed. I'm not kidding, it must have these tiny invisible little needles like a cactus. And for reals i think it had some sort of poison in it. One touch and I thought my fingers were on fire. I know, I should have had on the garden gloves. But see it's my mom that has the green thumb and I did not inherit one once of it! I don't really like gardening. The only plant I've ever managed to keep alive is the African Violet that resides on my kitchen counter.

*A few things I need to remember*

1. We're out to lunch last Sunday after church. Applebee's I think. Pete reads off the kids menu to Jake..

Daddy: You can have a chicken sandwich, cheeseburger, chicken fingers, spaghetti, or mac and cheese. What do you want?

Jake: ahhhh.....ummm I want the hands.

Pete and I look at each other like what the heck is he talking about??

Jake: Well...(pointing to his hands) um not these hands daddy.

Both of us: OHHHH Chicken Fingers!

*uhh... duh* Makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

2. last night

Jake says: Mommy I want Taco Bell (he's really into going out to eat right now)

Me: No. Not tonight.

Jake: Oh but mommy! I want picy taco bell! (that's S-picy) He doesn't ever say the letter S if it's followed by a consonant ie: stop=top. snake=take

Me: No, were going home and mommy's making dinner. You can have a burrito at home.

Jake: But mommy, you don't have to cook it!

Does this kid have me pegged or what? He knows I don't really want to cook dinner! LOL!!!

I actually really like cooking...but only when I know it's going to taste really good and if it's my own idea. I mean that I actually felt like making something. Sometimes I really hate making dinner because #1. I'm usually not that hungry at dinner time, and #2 because when I have to make it every night it feels like a chore....and I don't like chores. Never have. I'm an only child...what are chores?! Ha ha ha!(enter sarcasm here) See the trick is, you have to make me think it was my own idea. Like picking the weeds today. That was my own idea...I wanted to do it. But if Pete would have said to me "Could you pick those weeds in the yard today?" ....See that would have been his idea. Then it's a chore, and then I would have found anything else to do but pull the weeds! Is this sounding crazy to anyone?

Ok enough about me. One more thing I want to remember...

Megan...She's really come into her own self lately. She's decided she does not like baby food. She's a big girl...she's got one tooth...why can't she have big people food? I was trying to give her one of those baby food meals...you know the chicken and rice dinner....She got so mad at me! She's sitting there in the high chair screaming with her little hands in fists and her face turning all red. It's actually kind of funny to watch. But she wanted what we were eating. So she's now had Rice-a-Roni, meatloaf and mashed potatoes and spaghetti. It's like she's been waiting for this her whole life. She can not wait for that spoon of good stuff. She even waives her arms and says "ma ma ma ma". Like, more, more, more!

Well, that's about all there is to report. Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

*update*

Well, I haven't heard that crazy old man howler for a couple of nights now. I think someone must have complained. It wasn't me. See I'm all talk and no action. I may have talked about calling the city about the dog...but in reality I don't think I would have actually done it! Well, yes I would if it went on and on...but it seemed to only be about a week...with the day of my last post being the worst and now it seems to have stopped. Maybe he was only visiting? I mean what makes a dog just suddenly stop howling?
Other weird things going on in my neighborhood...I guess there have been a few people robbed. One lady said she left her garage door open for 5 minutes, she came back out and her laptop, camera and cell phone were gone from her car. And then someone saw some guys stealing a refrigerator out of one of the model homes. Must be some good money on the black market for a stainless steel fridge? I mean, why would you steal a fridge? Weird thing is, our neighborhood is supposed to be "posh". Picture "Wisteria Lane". Yeah, everybody thinks our neighborhood looks just like Desperate Housewives! And Lord only knows how we ended up here! I mean we are like THE rednecks of the neighborhood! I'm not joking! I'm surprised they let us in with our lifted 4WD truck, our duck boat, and all the other hunting crud Pete has out in the garage! We could open our own sporting goods store. Anyways...back to the weird happenings...So Monday I go out to the garage, put the kids in the car, pull out into the driveway...and..."Hey the gate is open!" The gate to our back yard/dog run was wide open. Both dogs gone. Now, I know what your thinking...maybe me or Pete or maybe even Jake left it open on accident. Uh uh. Nope. I know it was closed when we went to bed because I'd gone out there to check on them right before we went upstairs. Pete fed had them and everything was fine. I honestly think someone opened the gate on purpose. Anyways, so I'm kind of freaking out...Not sure exactly what to do, when all of a sudden here comes Maggie, our chocolate lab, running up the ally way with her tail between her legs. A tiny sigh of relief....But then I noticed...no Nacho. I drove around and around and called him and called him and he never came. I didn't even know I liked this dog that much! So Pete put a sign up at our mail box room and someone actually called! Couldn't believe it! I guess both dogs were together running around the park at 10:30 at night and Nacho ended up following this lady home and she took him in. So there are still decent people out there I guess! Actually, it really doesn't surprise me. Despite the weird happenings, the majority of the people in this neighborhood are awesome. We all moved here, I think, for the same reasons...to raise our families in a place where we feel safe, comfortable, and a place that has a real sense of community.
So, that's about all that's been going on around here. I did apply for a new job...more on that later. I can't wait to get this circle journal going. I got my supplies to start making mine today!