Homeless bum and slave labor

Wow, so I know I've gone absentee for awhile.... life again hit me in the face like spandex on a biker's bum.... AAHHH.

I have been slave labor for the past three weeks straight. I thought quitting would give me time to play and sleep in... not so much. We basically had to put six months of work into two weeks to finish our house in Franklin in time to list it. It was many sleepless nights, headaches, and owies that we finally got it ready, without a minute to spare. It was officially listed two days ago. Already some interest .... so we'll just wait, pray, and see!! Here are a few pictures I got from the MLS. They're not the greatest and hopefully I can post them later when I unpack our camera....

Here's the front. I wish I had one from the other angle. Jake built a 3-car detached garage as well as a deck and patio off the side.

This is our re-done bathroom. It previously had a lavendar cast iron tub, lavendar sink, and matching lavendar toilet. Needless to say this is an improvement.

And our Master..... there is puke, guts, and glory all rolled up into this room.

So we are officially in Boise. Without a home, yes.... but complete bums, not so much. Our car is loaded full of stuff but with nowhere to put it. We were supposed to close on our brand new house last week... but day after day, little things have come up with the lender. He needs another paper, he filed the wrong one, etc. So Sunday night, we were both scheduled to start jobs but with nowhere to go. So our temporary place of residence is in the fabulous Oxford Suites in downtown Boise.

Job for me, you might ask. (Well, you're probably not asking that but I am going to tell you anyway). I wasn't actually planning on working once the move came. I wanted some time to settle in, get ready for grad school....and stuff.... But as I started looking at some jobs up here, I thought I should apply anyway. I ended up getting accepted for a position in PSR (psychosocial rehabilitation). You work with youth and adults with severe mental issues and disabilities to teach them social skills. So Monday I went to my first day and had this AWFUL feeling. The job had sounded too good to be true, and it turns out.... it was. Dirty, nast building. Dirty, nasty co-workers. It just felt so wrong.

But here's another testament to the answering of prayers. Another door was opened. I had decided on a whim to take another interview at the Juvenile Court up here. My last position had me pretty burned out, but this position was working with their clinical department in program coordination... basically, not having to deal with snot-faced parents or their piggy headed kids in person. They called me Monday, right in the middle of my other job, and begged me to start the position. I was going to tell them no because it's full time, but after much prayer and deliberation... I KNOW it's where I need to be.

It hopefully will help the transition a little more.... as I'm up here, not knowing where to go or anybody, and being a bum. Ah, a bum, my life's calling.

Memory Tag!!!

Ok, I wasn't going to do this post because I have the biggest fear.... no one remembers anything about me. If anything, Becca might post about her concussion, so I thought it was worth a shot. It has been so fun to do this on other's blogs:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Splat.

The other day I went grocery shopping. As I was walking back out to my car, I found it surrounded by two little kids and their mother.
"Mommy, why isn't that bird moving?"
"He's just resting."
"Why is he resting upside down?"
"Get in the car. Our ice cream will melt."
I walked up to the car to see the resting bird. There it was - somehow attached to the front of the light. It was so brigh t I thought it was a stuffed animal at first.I didn't dare just kick it off, right in front of the little boys, so I just pretended I hadn't noticed and drove off.
The poor dang bird survived the trip home. AND a trip to Jake's parents. AND a trip out to Tremonton at my parents. 3 days, this dead guy hung on. It's little leg was stuck under the light. And I didn't feel right about just ripping him off.
And then the head fell off. I'll spare you those pictures.
Just remember this when you have a bad day.

Birf-day, Shout HOORAY!!

I know it was two weeks ago, but I really need to blog about my birthday. I have to be honest... I am not fond of getting old. Last year 25 was hard for me. Jake was out of the country and I turned half of fifty. But the thing about 26 is even worse..... the UPPER twenties. A scary place I've never been.But now that I have survived a few weeks in the 26's.... I am loving it. I had the best birthday EVER.
To help make up for last year, we had a week-long celebration. Girl's Camp was planned right in the middle of my birthday so Jake surprised me the Saturday morning before and went together with a bunch of friends and family to get me an X-Box. WAAHHH!!!! I did pee a little again.
He was so cute all that day. I got thoroughly spoiled and he even cooked ALL THREE meals. And would you believe it.... they were edible too.

I will be honest. I had mixed feelings about spending my birthday at Girl's Camp. But it turned out to be such a blessing. I love my girls and my ward. We had a blast and they taught me to feel young again :) They woke me up with a cake made out of ding-dongs, as they call me their favorite Ding Dong. The girls even wrote the following message with pine-cones.

Seriously, I LOVE THEM!!! Sniff!
That night when I returned home the birthday got even better. That was when got the news about the job!!
But the party doesn't end there. The next weekend Jake surprised me yet again. He invited some friends and family over for a par-tay. I never had them in high school or even in college. I was always afraid no one would show up. That's a different blog. But at the party I got even more surprised.... I got Guitar Hero. And Di came! Sniff again!! I can't believe all the work Jake went to. And I loved seeing everybody together. We had so much fun. I even got more granny-panties but Jake won't let me post those pictures.
Jennica looks JUST like a plastic surgery gone wrong in this picture, and Andrea's a little high, but you gotta love my fam! (Yeah, Dad still thinks he's a dinosaur....)

Here is everybody showing me how Guitar Hero is done. I was not good to start with, but after having it for two weeks..... my other day job is a rock star.


And once again, I have to profess my love for my Jakey. He always goes out of his way to make me feel loved and special, especially during the stressful times. I am one gol-darn lucky old lady!! I seriously too am so blessed to have all my friends and family! :) And especially to those of you that read my blog!!! (even if I force you!)

WHOOSH!!!

Yeah, yeah, another month has gone by. And I don't even have pictures this time. BUT, it has been a whoosh of a month. That is the sound of happiness, stress, sadness, scariness, and farting. But for us it is a good thing.
We have had so many ups and downs this year, with work, the house, health, family, deaths, etc. A few months ago we kept having the feeling that things just didn't feel right anymore.... that we needed to get out and maybe look elsewhere. Those who know me realize that my current job has just about done me in. I have become a basketcase. When I see teenagers I literally start to convulse. We sat down right before Jake graduated and made the scary plans to look for jobs... far, far, far away. Just to see.
Well, we got one. Jake applied for a web designer position in Boise where his sister lives. We knew it was a long shot - it was an awesome position. One that would allow me to take time off to either work part time or go back and get my Master's. Too good to be true. Well, WE GOT IT!! Jake just went up yesterday and passed the polygraph portion of the hiring process. We just need to wait for the background check to go through and IT IS OURS. Since Jake doesn't have a fondness of murdering or drugs, I think we'll be OK.
It is such a mix of emotions. We really hate to leave the house and ward that we love. We have worked so hard on it, just to put it up for sale when it is done. We are sad to leave the wonderful friends and family here, and I will even miss certain parts about work. But it just FEELS SO RIGHT. We know that it is where we are supposed to go. Still Idaho, still potatoes, but so right.

So right now it is a mess. We are trying to get the house here ready and on the market while at the same time trying to buy a house up there. Moving is a scary, scary thing. And I can't even put in my two weeks yet... there's the stupid money and insurance factor. So it's about to be a start of a new life. Good thing?? Yeah, as long as it involves potatoes, I think so. Whoosh.

Fear Factor Ev Style

I have determined that I have been quite the sap in recent postings. I really try to pretend after seeing other's blogs that I'm all cute and normal and exciting. Not the true story. I know, shocker. The fact is, I still wear a helmet to bed. I also have determined I like to take pictures with my nose up and my mouth open. See above.
But, I also like to take pictures with the head down, the double chin out, and the freakiness on. I thought I'd let everyone know that I may be getting really old, as I'm reminded by kids on a daily basis, but I can still throw down yo!! Below you will see me eating an octopus. We went to an Italian dinner with our friends in Little Italy. It was such a traumatic experience that it has taken me awhile to post about. I also have determined that I blog a lot about being old, and it doesn't help that I will enter the UPPER twenties this month. But as for the octopus and all it's danger, eat THAT, old people!!!

Yeah, Yo, this is awesome. I ate an octopus. How is that for a blog story?? Yes, I still need help!!!

I hate alarm clocks

When the alarm goes off in the morning, I fight the urge to murder. It's a thing I hate. But with so much negativity around me, I thought I would take time today to write on a few more of my loves.
I love sleeping in, for one. It was a three-day weekend full of beautiful, beautiful things. And I love that.

I love my friends. I don't get to see them nearly as much as I want to but I love each one of them. I'm so grateful for all of you and for the changes you have made in my life. I can't believe that you put up with me!! I love the chance to blog and catch up with so many. I love that I get to be myself and not everyone will run away screaming.
A few months ago I went up to Kisty's cabin with a bunch of us and never posted. Poo on me!! But that's still a thing I love!!


And totally more sappy, I love my family. I love my way too insane but beautiful sisters. Becca, you're a favorite too. But I don't know about your neck. We try to keep her big neck a secret but it's pretty hard because she runs out of scarves. :)

And yes, I love Carrie even though she is going into hooker-ing. Or maybe cross-dresser-ing. (OK, it was a colorguard competition last month but I did see plenty of spandex so it made me wonder....)


Right now, I love that Jake is graduated. I love that when I come home, HE'S HOME TOO. I love the excitement that this new job search is bringing and the endless possibilities in front of us. Yes, I'm scared to death and peeing in my pants a little, but I love it. (not the peeing part though). The rumor is out - there's a good possibility we will have to leave this beautiful home we love and our wonderful friends and neighbors here, but it makes room for new experiences and friends and fun and.... . ok, that's too sappy, even for me.
I also love to torture people in many fun ways. I love to win wars with Jake in licking each other's faces. And he will admit, he cries himself to sleep at night because he's so gooey and wimpy that he can't fight back. I have so many loves and blessings in my life that I am overwhelmed. I was recently talking to a friend that gave me inspiration - to write at the end of each day the hand of the Lord in my life. It has started to go beyond squishy things, forts, and blankees for me. I'm in love with life and though it can really stink at times and has felt pretty dang hard recently, there is too much to love to stay focused on that!!!!!