Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2008 2:03 PM
1. Do you wear a name tag at work?
Unfortunately, yes, especially because I stayed with Parks & Recreation instead of taking the job at CHKD.
2. What kind of car do you drive?
None at present. We sold my Scion yesterday and currently on doing the car hunt. Plus I can't drive Big Daddy's car because it's a stick
3. What do you order when you go to Taco Bell?
Enchirito or Soft tacos or Chicken Quesadilla
4. Have you ever had a garage sale? Sure, but never any scusseful ones
5. What color is your iPod?
It's red (the Product Red one)
6. What kind of dog do you have?
A boxer-lab mix and an AmStaff Terrier
7. What's for dinner tonight?
Cheesy chicken & broccoli casserole
8. What is the last alcoholic beverage you had?
Mike's hard lemonade this past week
9. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?
Well, the dog ate my last one. That was pretty dumb.
10. Last time you were sick?
Stomach flu, two Fridays ago.
11. How long is your hair?
Medium
12. Are you happy right now?
Happy in general, yes. We sold the Scion, I am (hopefully) getting a Jeep Grand Cherokee in place of it and we are working ongetting out of debt. I was able to keep my old job after I tried to quit (a second time), and am (finally) starting nursing school in the fall. Life is pretty darn good right now.
13. What did you say last?
"Thanks."
14. Who came over last?
The people that bought the Scion picked it up yesterday afternoon.
15. Do you drink beer?
Sure. I don't discriminate. :)
16. Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted?
No, but I used to tell my little brother that all the time.
17. What is your favorite key chain on your keys?
I like my monogrammed tag and my rotten strawberry best.
18. What did you get for graduation?
Nothing I am pathetic and haven't graduated college yet.
19. What's in your pocket?
Not a darn thing.
20. Who introduced you to Dane Cook?
Rachel & Katie.
21. Has someone ever made you a Build-A-Bear?
Yep It's a monkey that is dressed like a sailor. My husband gave it to me when he got out of bootcamp.
22. What DVD is in your DVD player?
Almost Famous
23. What's something fun you did today?
I dressed cute. Does that count?
24. Who is/was the princpal of your high school?
Hm. When I graduated, it was...... I don't even know.
25. Has your house ever been TP'd?
Nah.
26. What do you think of when you hear the word "meow"?
My cats that I gave away.
27. What are you listening to right now?
The hum of the vending machine, general office chatter
28. Drinking?
Lemonade Tea
29. What is your favorite aisle at Wal-Mart?
The clothes, actually. They don't do too bad anymore
30. When is your mom's birthday?
September 5
31. When is your birthday?
January 6
32. What's the area code for your cell phone?
757
33. Where did you buy the shirt you're wearing now?
Charlotte Russe
34. Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror?
I don;t have one. See aforementioned lack of a vehicle.
35. How many states in the US have you been to?
Probably about 15.
36. What kind of milk do you drink?
I use 1% on my cereal and for cooking, but for drinking, we go with Very Vanilla Silk.
37. What are you going to do after this?
Work.
38. Who was the last person you went shopping with?
Big Daddy. He had to be dragged.
39. What is your favorite fruit?
Raspberries, although I like fresh kiwi, too.
40. What about your favorite dessert?
lemon bars, rice krispie treats, pie of most kinds. I miss my Grandma Mac's raspberry pie alot.
41. What is something you need to go shopping for?
I honestly can't think of anything, other than home improvement items (like linoleum and paint). Ugh.
42. Do you have the same name as one of your relatives?
I proudly share my middle name with my great-grandmothers.
43. What kind of car does one of your siblings drive?
My brother drives my old GMC Jimmy.
44. Do you like pickles?
Only dills... hate the sweet ones.
45. How about olives?
LOVE THEM.
46. What is your favorite kind of gum?
Orbit.
47. What is your favorite kind of juice?
Orange Pineapple
48. Do you have any tan lines?
No, I don't tan at all.
49. What hospital were you born in?
Saginaw General Hospital, Saginaw Michigan.
Posted Friday, February 22, 2008 3:17 PM
This will be my first blog post on here but hopefully not my last.
I have tried a lot of different "blogging" things before and can never really stick to them, either because I am not comfortable with the people that are reading it on a regular basis (a too close for a comfort situation), or because I keep expecting comments and get none. I think I am out of my attention-neediness phase, so hopefully this time will be different. 
Today is an "Eeyore Day." 
Anyways, I am getting to make the switch from a "as close to fulltime as you can get" part-time position as a front desk receptionist with Parks & Recreation in Virginia Beach to fulltime secretary in the Gastroenterology department at CHKD in Norfolk. A lot of changes are about to happen, from part-time to fulltime, from no benefits to full benefits including dental and a retirement plan, a $4 raise, and an additional 30-45 minute drive everyday when I am so used to being four blocks from home. I am excited, but at the same time, I am really nervous and apprehensive. This is my first foray into the realm of fulltime employment, especially in a position I was actually really, geniunely interested in and hoping I would get. With all my experience in office settings and my newfound medical knowledge from EMT-B training, I know I can be successful in this position, once I get acclimated to the new surroundings. It's just taking the leap that seems a bit daunting now that I am so close to it.
I am worried (and feeling a bit guilty) where our "fur-babies" are concerned, too. I know I shouldn't since the puppies are a joint responsibility, but with Jeff being on the Navy base and me being so close, I have been the one to head home during the middle of everyday and take them outside for their potty break & some fresh air. Living on the third floor sucks for them (more on how it sucks for us later) and with me taking this new job, it is about to suck even more. There is no way I am going to be able to get home to take them out anymore, so they are going to have to empty out everything in the morning before I leave and hold the new stuff till one of us gets home. I cringe at the idea of it. I even think I am so worried about them, that if they "let loose" in the house, I am not going to fault them for it. The messes are, really, going to be our fault and I feel very guilty about it, since if it wasn't for me, this wouldn't be an issue. I have heard so many horror stories about dogs getting infections because they don't get enough opportunities to go outside and after what we rescued them from, I don't want anything bad or even uncomfortable for them at all. The biggest draw for this job (aside from my general interest in it) is the pay raise that is going to help us move on the ground level.
Which brings me to my next woe. While Jeff was still out to sea, we decided to start looking for a house. We found the perfect little house in Chesapeake, with a big yard, three bedrooms, a huge eat-in kitchen, two full bathrooms.... it was it. But, when we sat down to look at our bills and see if we could really purchase it, we found out we can't because our debt-to-income ratio is too high. Even with renting out our third-floor condo (which is what we'd like to do), our d-to-i ratio puts our debt at 60% and no lender will finance us with that, especially since we will have to do 100% financing. We decided that this is a blessing in disguise, and if that house is the right one for us, it will still be there when we are ready for it. We are going to take the next 3-6 months to aggressively pay off our debts and save money. We will keep living on the budget we have set-up right now with my part-time hours & pay, and use the extra income from my new salary and Jeff's advancement pay to save, sow into church more and pay off our debts. We are also going to use some of our tax return money to make repairs and improvements in the condo. We'd like to replace out old stackable washer/dryer unit with a new, energy-efficient model, finishinstalling the laminate flooring and possibly replace the carpeting in the bedroom & the loft. We also need to take out the rock-wall in the livingroom, patch the drywall, touch up the paint, etc. Instead of nights out at movies or dinner, we are going to spend time together fixing up the condo. It'll probably get a little boring after a couple weekends, but so be it. We will reap the benefits in the end, right? 
And in other news, we have decided to start trying to conceive our first child. In the midst of everything else that is going on, we both want a baby very badly. We agreed to take the passive approach, though, and let it happen when it happens.
Wow. That was a lot. Haha. Til next time.
xoxo 