Mixing the personal with the professional a bit

I am starting a new business.  I am wrapping up all the legal legwork that I need to incorporate.  Once all the lawyers say I am good I need to hire an artist.  If you or someone you know would be interested in being the artist for my project then I have an ongoing contract for you.

I am looking to build a business relationship for an ongoing project that has major potential to expand nationally.  If you are interested please send me your portfolio in addition to your resume for review.  If you do not have a portfolio I am going to need to at least see samples of your work.  This is a telecommute position.  This position will start in early October.  

Life is short...wear red. - International Party Girl

We had an outstanding weekend at Casa de IPG.  Friday was Bey’s work from home day.  So we all spent some time hanging out and being a family.  Saturday was spent working, riding bikes, and swimming in the pool.  We went tubing down the Salt River a few weeks ago, and I believe we want to do that again pretty soon.  I have luckily had several classes end so it is kind of a slow week so I feel like I am a free bird.  : )

I have been trying to get Stephanie Meyer’s book about Bree Tanner read via the Internet.  I might have to break down and purchase it on my Kindle though. 

SD is at her grandmother’s this week so the house is quiet.  I have suddenly become sick of soccer now that the US is out.  Guess that is all in news…

"Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, i would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station." Anon

What all has been going on?  LOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First and foremost I should mention I am once again out of town.  Out of the country.  Out of my mind.  One thing I have just recently realized is I hate being separated from the man.  Bey is an outstanding man!  I can’t believe how much I miss him. 

Let’s see I believe I mentioned I bought a new truck, and the pool was finished.  Work has been hectic and fun all at the same time.  My parents came for a visit which was nice to see them.  I can’t ever spend enough time with them!  It is so great that my dad is now retired.  I have never seen him so relaxed. 

Bey and I have been having a great time.  One thing that has been a lot of fun is settling in to our schedule.   Having SD every other weekend allows us to have alone time.  We are able to spend some quality couple time.

We went to a crawfish festival back in April.  It was nice to listen to Zydeco music and eat Jambalaya.  It was even nicer to spend the time with our friends and hang out with people from Louisiana that have been transplanted in Phoenix like us! 

SD was inducted into the NJHS (National Junior Honor Society).  We are so proud of her!  She looked so pretty at her induction ceremony.   I was so proud seeing her standing there with her candle. 

SD has been attending Bible study at church.  She is very dedicated and enjoys the study.  She has also made quite a few friends at church. 

My stepmom group is going well, and I have been enjoying getting to know my fellow Stepmom’s in the valley.  On Saturday, we went and painted our own pottery.  Not really my thing, but I still had such a blast with the girls. 

I’ll have some new school stuff to report directly.  Additionally now that all the projects are done around the house Bey and I can just settle in to our little love nest.  J

“A good review from the critics is just another stay of execution.” Dustin Hoffman

My mother has been visiting and she thankfully has been keeping me sane in a week destined to blow my cool as a cucumber austere.  It all began so quietly yesterday.

I received an email that my faculty review was in.  Excited was I because I knew that I had hit this one out of the ball park.

So, I hastily opened my form that gives me my news.  I just knew I had received the coveted Exceeds all Astronomical Projections and Expectations or (EAPE) for short.


I opened my evaluation and see that I was given a Meets Ridiculous Amounts of Expectations (MRAE).  Seriously. I become livid.  All the comments point to a EAPE not a MRAE. So I did what any sensible Southern girl would do.  I call the nimrod that was evaluating me.  BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.

The moronic man that reviewed me was chauvinistic, ridiculous, and unbelievably misguided, “Do you have any idea how arduous the review process is?” To which I NATURALLY respond, “It would be less arduous if you could actually fill the little letters out correctly.”

I go on to explain why the MRAE is completely, utterly, and insanely unacceptable and the reason why I deserve an EAPE and how ridiculously wrong he was.  It was if he was reviewing some other class.  I provide graphs, proof, spreadsheets, and tables created from those spreadsheets.  It is unbearable, and unbelievable to listen to this buffoon try to tap dance around the fact that he completed the review wrong.
And the verdict? (Mr. I-am-smarter-than-you and a jerk did not ever admit to being wrong).  Unfortunately for Mr. IASTY I have the phone numbers for the People that Make Things Happen.  I know these people.  I know their Banana Republic suits and their ability to send emails that cut right through the egos of these peon Mr. IASTYs…I went over his head.

Anyway, the SECOND person I talked to said:

Person in Charge (PIC): “Ugh yes Mr. IASTY is rather difficult, but I can’t do anything until he changes his score.”

Me: “He won’t, but he won’t admit he is wrong.  I have graphs and charts.  I can prove with out a shadow of a doubt that he is W-R-O-N-G” (For those of you that have never met me in the flesh I have an uncanny ability to argue.  I learned it by growing up a superb lawyer’s daughter.  I also am always right.  I could explain how to always be right.  Here is how it goes.  Make sure that you are right before engaging in an argument.  Ensure that you have facts and figures  to back it up before engagement.  This is the best way to always be right.  If you are not 100 percent sure you are right then don’t engage.  Rinse. Repeat. You get the drill).

Pic: “You made graphs and charts?”
Me: “Yes doesn’t everyone?”


PIC: “No wow I am impressed!  I am changing your score in our system post haste.”
Me:  “Whoop Whoop!”
And that is how I got an EAPE on my review.

I will be likely moving this blog.  To those that are followers I will send out the  new URL. :)

Back from my Blogcation

I admit I have been crap lately.  No blog updates for almost a month.  Wow!  I have been keeping my regular journal and writing other nonsense such as checks for bills.  I just had not had a chance.

That is not quite true.  I guess I have been adjusting.  I had a hard time when I first got married.  Everytime I turned around and Bey was there I was like WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? and he resonably responded "I live here."  I have sort of been going through that again but on different scale. Don't get me wrong...I love SD, and I love Bey.  I always want to talk to them and hear how they are doing.  But it has been an adjustment for me now that Bey is here and we have SD.  

I just can't seem to hit my supergirl stride.  I know for a fact it has to do with juggling all the things I am juggling.  And by things I mean...finishing the Diss, work, unpacking and organizing my house, being the domestic Goddess I am, doing a MAJOR remodel to the house think 2000 square feet of tile.  

I finally found a gym I liked and joined it.  However I can't seem to hit my stride there either.  I did happen to find a Yoga instructor that both challenges me, and suits my needs in that area so mark that down as a resounding success.  In this category I guess I have to include Belly Dancing.  I have started taking it.  I am not so good, but I enjoy it!!!  

I have found two stepmom groups that I have joined, and enjoy meeting and dishing with those nice ladies.  We have also found a church we will join.  So all of that is great.  

Oh and my precious Saints made the superbowl!  Who dat?

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air…”-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I want my money back. It has been cloudy 4 days in a row. I moved here for the sunshine. :) Actually I moved here for precious SD, but some sunshine would be nice as well.

Darling Bey leaves the great state of Mississippi a week from today. They are throwing him a large going away party that is is a secret I believe. He will have a great time, and I am glad they are honoring him this way. I don't know what his poor boss is going to do with out him.

My sweet daddy is spending the night in my old stomping grounds...El Paso, TX. He should be in Phoenix either tomorrow or Sunday. I am so grateful that we are going to have such a large group at Thanksgiving. I am also excited that I will be able to share my new beautiful home with my family.

My sister met Stephen King today. I am VERY jealous. I love him. He is one of my most favorite authors. It is pretty exciting that she got that opportunity.

Work has been washing over my head like waves. I am so over worked it seems. Now is the last big push until the end of the year. This is not a problem, but I would just like a break.

I saw the movie 2012 with SD and mom this evening. During the movie I realized I have burning desire to go to Tibet. So I will probably be planning something along those lines in the next year or so.

The car search has stalled. Mostly because I have been in mad preparation for family. Hubby has gotten a much better position and a substantial raise so I may bump up my desires a bit more.

I believe I have blogged before on our desire to live a debt free life. Other than our mortgage Bey and I are debt free. So I won't be buying a car that we can't pay for outright. If I were to sit tight for a month or so more I could afford a bit more. But I don't really care what I drive. Mostly if it has four wheels, an automatic transmission, and cranks when I put the key in I am pretty happy.

My dissertation has stalled. My advisor emailed to find out if I was among the living. Thankfully I had something to report and could answer in the affirmative.

“You'd be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap!” Dolly Parton

On tap today:

• Coffee at 6 AM with Morgan
• Unpacking and what not at the new house
• Cleaning and what not at the rental
• Work-grades, posting, wrapping up some course development
• A few quick errands
• Auburn Football with the Auburn club
• Girl's night out with my Phoenix girls and friend that is here from out of town

I am exhausted already and it is only 5:40 AM. Also on the list locate my Auburn gear and Auburn shoes and Auburn beads so I am correctly attired for the party. Locate my LBD, boots and cowboy hat for girl's night. You may not think that boots and cowboy hat go with an LBD, but I like it. It works for me.

Talked to my friend Mike who is moving to Phoenix last night for 3 hours. (It had been awhile). He will be here this month for a little visit. Can't wait to see him!

The 'rents are coming soon. I am pretty excited and can't wait to show them the new Casa de IPG.

All my furniture was delivered yesterday and can I just say AMAZING. Literally gorgeous. I swear I am going to post some pics as soon as there are not boxes coming out of my ears.

Little SD is sick. She has chronic stomach pains so the doctor is running tests. She found out they needed a stool sample. She asked her mom what stool was, and when she found out she was mortified. Feel better SD!

Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrkkkkkkkkkkkk
I have been up since 4 AM working. I will probably be up a few hours more. Give or take 5 or so. Sigh. This project WILL NOT END. WILL NOT...sigh.

Anyway, tomorrow my furniture comes for my barbie dream home. YEAH! :)

So I know this is crude, but saw it on an Auburn blog and had to share. :)

I am going to take pics of the house tomorrow with the new gear. I also wish I had made Bey leave his little HD video camera. I could have taken some video.

Thanks to all the well wishers. I appreciate you ladies.

“The best way to be boring is to leave nothing out” Voltaire

I am going to catch everyone up on the most boring stuff first.

OK FIRST...

School dissertation work will recommence on October 1, 2009. Blah. I haven't got much left to do, but I have been putting it off for a few reasons. First of all I can keep health insurance through Mississippi State as long as I am a student. I was concerned for a bit that I might have to insure both Bey and I (spouses count t00). However it doesn't look like that is the case. Bey will be staying put until he finds his perfect job. So there is no need to lolly gag.

Work

So much work I could scream. Life is too full. Too much going on. I have so many classes and they are all starting like NOW. :) October is always like that! ;) Anyway, most of my course development wraps up at the end of next week. SIGH. Relief.

Furniture

I ordered an entire house full of new furniture and it is all being delivered on Friday. The furniture is contemporary and some of it is custom so the only place to find it is in IPG's home. For example I have a six foot long wall in my foyer that needed something and so IPG's sweet Daddy agreed to build her a fascinating plant and indoor water feature to her exact specifications. Once the house is finished it should look like a show place. Will definitely post pics.

Family

My dad retired in May and has been furnishing his own retirement casa. He and my mom are planning a much anticipated trip to IPGzona. They should be staying between 3 and 4 weeks and we plan to see much of the state as well as just spend some great quality time together.

Sad Stuff

The family dog (not my dog Shug)...my mom's dog Licorice has been diagnosed with cancer. This has delayed my parent's trip. They do not know how much longer they will have with their sweet dog. So they obviously need to spend time with him.

Bey has turned down a few job offers that just were not a good fit for our lifestyle and this family. So the job hunt continues. I am happy I got to spend time with him, and although I know that this separation is difficult it has also made me appreciate some things.

1. Some women are not loved their entire lives as much as my husband loves me. I am not bragging or trying to be mean. I just know that I am the very center of my husband's world. The two of us together create a universe. Not having him here has made me appreciate that in brand new ways. Knowing that our bond is that strong means it is ok that we are not together right this second. We will be, and when we are it will be great.

2. Having a man around the house is handy. I am all for a little girl power, but my goodness when it comes to lifting 150 lb boxes of patio furniture from Home Depot. It is nice to have some muscle around (and it doesn't hurt that it is DELISH) lol


Car

The time has come to get rid of this piece of crap in my driveway I call a truck. :) We are considering some vehicles. I haven't had a chance to go check them all out. So here they are in no particular order....

1. H3
2. Mercedes GLK
3. Jeep Liberty
4. Dodge Ram
5. Chevrolet Silverado
6. Saturn Vue

I have gone and seen a few of them, but haven't had a chance to work through the entire list. I am pretty systematic and will have to just work at my own pace. Notice there is not a BMW z4 on there.


Upcoming events

My social life in Phoenix has expanded. I have met people through Auburn clubs, and Saints clubs, and sorority events. It has been fun getting to know different people. Bey and I have even gotten to be such good friends with a couple here that we have planned a trip to Vegas with them in February. It is a surprise for the guy's birthday. We have all told him we are going on a couple's retreat to Napa Valley. It should be pretty funny when he finds out we are actually planning a trip to somewhere way more fun than Napa. :)


Big 5

So Bey and I started planning our 5th Anniversary trip. We were thinking about going back to Belize where we got married, but have sort of decided to do something different. I will give you a hint it starts with a capital A and is continent!

Joy is the best makeup. Anne Lamott

Sometimes joy comes in the strangest packages.

Picture it…bummed out IPG. Crying on the phone with her mom. Lonely in Phoenix. Sad to be away from the handsome Bey. Bling Bling Bling. Goes her blackberry. And to her surprise is an offer for some more course development and some more money. This makes IPG feel slightly better.

Then covering up with her blanket IPG spots a baby lizard. The tiniest thing she has ever seen. He really is SMALL! So IPG catches him and releases him outside to roam in his backyard dominion.

Finally IPG logs on to Facebook and sees that one of her friends has mentioned Matthew 6: 33. For the purpose of this post (Matthew 6:25-34)

²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.“

I have to stop talking in third person or I will be unable to make this post make sense. But basically after seeing that and reading that verse I realized a small miracle occurred in my house today. That tiny lizard made me think. I worried what if I hadn’t seen him and he starved to death in my home? Or what if I had accidentally sat on him? But then I read Matthew 6:33 and I remembered that everything happens for a reason. I don’t know what it is. But my darling husband will be here soon. We won’t be separated forever, and that right now I need to not worry. That isn’t my job.

In other less exciting academic news…I am snowed under with course development. I am literally snowed under with them. I love the work, and the money it brings, but today I just wanted to play hooky!

“"The time has come," the walrus said, "to talk of many things: Of shoes and ships - and sealing wax - of cabbages and kings” Lewis Carrol

OMG what have I done? I have signed on to do some really really big course redesigns in the next couple of weeks. Why did I do that since I know SD hasn’t gone back to school yet? What is wrong with me???? The work is big, and threatening to smother me. It also doesn’t help that I am running off on jaunty vacations every weekend.

And in other news…I need my eyebrows waxed BADLY. What is a wicked stepmother without perfectly executed eyebrows? I also need my bangs cut, my nails and toes done, some other maintenance type things done. But I have no clue where to go. Perhaps I should relate a quick story about why this is such a tragedy. My hair in most places is white blonde…white white…Barbie white. My eyebrows are a shade slightly lighter than that. One might describe my eyebrows as polar bear. ANYWAY, the last time I ventured into an unknown salon I had my eyebrows WAXED OFF. Yes you read it right. The girl accidently waxed off one of my eyebrows. She claimed she couldn’t SEE it. Well one can’t go around with just one eyebrow so the OTHER one had to come off as well. It was disastrous. Now I don’t know what to do. Do I go brave the wilds wondering what sort of scary wax wielding ninja might butcher my perfectly maintained arch? Or do I cower at home like a mouse?

“Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.” Jesse Owens

I was awarded a blog award by “Dad’s Second Whatever.” You can follow her blog by clicking here or on the side. I am so happy that she felt my blog worthy of an award. I am so grateful I have met all these outstanding stepmoms through their blogs. Thank you for giving my blog an award, and taking the time to read my mad ramblings.

So I have officially been in Phoenix by myself over a month now. I am lonely. I will be attending a social event with the Auburn Alumni group here in town on the 29th. I will be attending some of the events with my sorority this month as well. But it is time to start working on my new local BFF. This coming weekend I don’t have time to work on it. It is my weekend without SD so I will be spending it in San Diego with my lifelong BFF Sally. I will be relaxing on the beach and catching up about the minutiae that define our lives as women.

But when I get back home the hunt for cultivating new friendships will be on. I also need to put my big girl panties on and quit staying at my aunt’s house every night. I am basically paying a little over $1,000 bucks a month for a storage unit for a rental house I have slept in like 5 times. In my defense though it is much easier to stay over there, and she likes having me around. I am an excellent cook so my uncle enjoys my being there as well.

One thing that always stumps me is that I really have no peer group. I work from home. I am an online college professor. So I don’t get up and go to a job everyday. On occasion I am free to shop in the middle of the week or take long leisurely lunches. That makes me sort of like a stay at home mom. However I don’t have any kids at home…there are not many 32 year old women that don’t work at all, don't work from home and don’t have kids leaving me stuck with no peers. That is not meant to be a poor me kind of post more like a …hmm what is a gal to do kind of comment.

I am throwing a sleep over!

Tonight is SD's birthday party. There are going to be 12 and 13 year old girls squealing at my house all night. I guess I am in for an adventure. Bey was telling me how much he missed me, and how much he wished he was here. THEN he heard about the sleepover and laughed saying...well maybe I am glad I am missing out on those particular events.

Today has been one of the worst weeks in IPG history. First I am trying to dispute the charges on my credit card with the company that moved me. They did a poor job and need to give me some sort of refund. Second I have had work related drama that has gotten under my skin. Third I have had to deal with Bey's dad. I don't mean to speak ill of my parents. I know that we are called to Honor our Father and Mother, and I believe that includes our in laws. But Bey's dad is an alcoholic. He usually causes more problems than I can think of for himself. His entire life has been spent making bad choices. Forth Bey's mom had some pretty major surgery so we have been worried about her. And so it goes. :(

I am typically a cat. I land on my feet. One of my nicknames in college was Midas because everything I touch turns to gold. But at times like these I wonder when is this foot landing going to happen?

SD is having a good summer. She has been playing with her cousin and we have been planning our activities for the rest of her time in school. She is going to do some after school programs this year so she is pretty excited about that. I will upload some summer pictures and pictures from the party later!

Hello out there in TVLand!

Wow it is warm here in Phoenix. My parents just recently got moved to Atlanta, and I think that the south is having the coolest summer they have ever had. LOL wow.

We broke some heat records Sunday it was 115 degrees. AMAZING. Although I have to say you don't notice how hot it is, because it is not muggy hot you get outside and don't realize how hot you are.

I have been in my rental house exactly one week, and I am ready to be out! I am ready to buy a house and get on with the move!

My darling Bey is ready to get out here to be with his PRINCESS. Awww...this separation crap is for the birds!

SD lost her first grandparent last week. Consequently she has been with her mom, I will pick her up again Friday. work is work. :)

“Murder is always a mistake - one should never do anything one cannot talk about after dinner” Oscar Wilde

My furniture was supposed to happily arrive in Phoenix on the 22nd. So why is it not here yet? Because Nationwide Relocation Services Sucks that is why. :) My furniture and other items should arrive at 2 PM today.

SD is back with me while her daddy is working hard in Starkville to wrap up all the loose ends. I miss him dreadfully and want him to come home. HOPEFULLY by the end of the month he will be reunited with me once again.

Work has had the usual summer slow down. That is ok by me because I have been feeling particularly lazy these last few days. I have lounged at the pool as well as relaxed with my SD. My aunt is out of town so I am watching her little dogs. They are so terribly spoiled...the dashing Bey nicknamed them the Six Inch Mafia. :)

Depending on a few unknowns my BFF and some other girls might come into town to say HELLO to Phoenix. ;)

Finally Made It and the past few week's break down

It was a hot long drive from Mississippi to El Paso, but the Zamora family made it. We had one casualty a fis that did NOT make it. My hubby and I decided to drive two of our vehicles and haul our boat.

We made it to Phoenix late on Sunday. Monday meant a cajillion errands for getting the new rental set up. SD loves the new rental house. Our old house closed in Mississippi on Monday as well. We are no longer home owners.

There are no homes for sale where we want to buy right now. So we aer playing the increasingly fun waiting game. :( We are staying at my aunt's. Her home is lovely and has all the luxury touches in a home. SD loves my aunt's house...mostly because my aunt is spoiling her rotten.

Father's day was a drive, but we celebrated with Bey and let hime know how much we appreciated him. He leaves on Sunday, and it is going to be so hard being apart for a month.

Bey's birthday was yesterday, and we celebrated in style. I even managed to get out and get him a gift he actually wanted.

I am crushingly behind on work which is why I am up at 5 AM getting my work done. :( I keep getting phone calls at 5 from students and schools on Eastern time. I really would appreciate if that would stop. Sigh.

What day is it? Where am I?

I have been too tired to grope with the meaning of life lately. Now I am falling asleep over pizza cause I am sooooo unbelievably tired. It is incredible really. I am beat. Packing, working, being a mom...busy stuff.

Here is the update...I got a new job...yeah like I needed a new job. My computer crashed so I am using my hubby's laptop. (He probably likes Obama better than me right now). He is not only out a laptop...but in addition...I am making him fix my laptop.

SD is reading up a storm. Walking around with a book in her nose. She is so ambitious in her reading pursuits. Yeah!

And on the conference call today...pompous jerk that thinks he knows everything, and insists on spewing information left and right such as "His daughter is a nude model." I don't care please shut up so I can get off this conference call.

Wanted some sane folks to participate in conference calls.

Moving Gumbo

Bey and I are going to have to rent for a few months in Phoenix. First of all it is the most fiscally responsible thing to do. I am many many things…but I am usually very fiscally conservative. We don’t want to commit to buying a new home until after this one in Starkville is closed.

Second I want the perfect house. Not just any house, and the perfect house is not on the market yet. :0) So I am going to have to get a rental until at least October after the perfect house has been foreclosed on and is available for sale. Until then we will have a cute rental and tons of boxes that won’t be unpacked.

In other family news…Bey is joining the Navy Reserves. That is exciting. They are giving him a straight commission so he will only have to spend 2 weeks training in San Diego and then one weekend a month for 8 months training for his job. SD and I have been joking around and saluting him all over the house. This is really an answered prayer as he was considering going into the Marine Corps. I really didn’t want him to join the corps. This works out so much better! This way we get health insurance, and Bey is able to look for the right job, not just take any job once we get to IPGzona. :)

SD is in Bible school this week at church. I felt so bad for her because her summer stay this year is so short she will not be able to go to all her camps that I usually enroll her in, such as Dandy Doodlez. The camps are usually several times during the summer, but she is only going to be here for Bible school. I will probably look for some camps in Phoenix…I will just have to see.

Project pack this family up and get them moved is going well. I put a big schedule of everyone’s jobs on the fridge and it has worked like magic. Bey and SD surprised me with how much they had already packed up when I got home from my house hunting mission. My maids tell me I am spoiled, and I don’t say anything because how can I respond? I know I am spoiled. >:)

If you are wondering what is going on with work…I am slowing down a touch next month as happens every summer. However I am going to try to pick up some on ground classes as soon as I get to Phoenix. There is also a school I used to work for that is going to bring me back on board once I get to Phoenix because they can hire from IPGzona.

One thing we are doing about the move that should be fun is staying with friends and family along the way. We have friends in Monroe, Dallas, El Paso, etc that we are going to be having lunch and spending the night with on our trek across the country. That way we can make the trip as fun as possible. Something that we have been doing in our home to keep stress levels at an all time low is that you are not allowed to snap if another person is getting on your nerves. This goes for kids and adults. :) If someone is getting on your nerves you have to say “You are SOOOOOOO Good Looking.” In your best Seinfeld voice. This has not only made everyone giggle it has added some festivities to the packing process.

Finally I have started working on my dissertation again. FINALLY. :) It is coming along although not as quickly as I would like. And that is understandable because I have lots of crazy stuff going on in my life.