A Rocky Start

It's been almost a month since I've been back here. Whether that's good or bad - I haven't decided. Moving into the house was a challenge and I've had plenty of ups and downs trying to get ready for the move. Honestly, I wouldn't have ever gotten through it if it wasn't for a close friend of mine. C saw me through everything and was there to help me when I needed it. She's the best!

So - here's what happened....

I started packing as soon as I got the news that my application for the lease on this house was approved. I packed with a frenzy at first, packing all the things I knew I wouldn't need for at least a month or so. I felt good. I was getting a head start on packing and felt that when the time came to move, I wouldn't have miscellaneous stuff laying around the apartment waiting to be packed at the last minute.

Well, I underestimated myself. With a full-time job, two kids, a dog and many other responsibilities, I packed less and less over the span of a month. Moving weekend came and I found myself packing and taking apart furniture well into the night. Moving day came and I was still packing and taking apart furniture. Thank goodness - J was there to help me, but of course, it wasn't without a whine or two. He hates early mornings just as much as I do - probably even more.

Anyway, as soon as I was approved for the lease, I started making the many phone calls necessary to cancel current services at the apartment and ordered new ones for the house. That also included the many change of address forms that I had to fill out. Fun, isn't it? I called AT&T for Internet and TV service at the new house and I had to order gas from Centerpoint. Also, the house didn't have a fridge or a washer/dryer so I had to buy them from Conn's. Both AT&T and Centerpoint required someone to be there to let someone into the house, as well as Conn's. With all the deposits and initial activation charges on many things - I couldn't afford to miss work (and AT&T/Centerpoint wouldn't come on a Saturday) so I was stressing out. Since my friend, C, is off on Fridays, she volunteered to come and stay at my house (which had no TV, no Internet and no fridge) to let all these people in.

Well - Conn's showed up but with a washer/dryer that was damaged. They apologized and said they'd be back Saturday morning with new ones. Ok - not too bad, right? Well - AT&T showed up right after Conn's did and found that there wasn't any connection. The AT&T guy thought maybe something was wrong with the phone line behind my house so he called for a phone tech to come check it out. It took the phone tech guy ALL DAY to show up (The TV guy called him around 10am and he showed up around 4pm) only to say "You're too far to get any services from AT&T." Poor C - she waited at the house all day for nothing. While she was at the house, I was running my many errands - one of them was visiting 4 different schools to withdraw my children from Katy ISD and to enroll them in Cy-Fair ISD. Yes - 4 schools - because my kids attend different schools. Fun! By the way - Centerpoint never showed up either.

So - on my way to one of the schools, I knew I would be passing the house so I stopped by and gave C some lunch. C was texting me all day long keeping me up to date on the many problems there was at the house. What made matters worse was that T-Mobile's servers weren't working that day. The only thing that worked on our phones was text. I ended up having a chat with the AT&T guy about the problems. That stressed me out even more. I ended up not going to work after all because I was just too mad/upset about everything. Since I couldn't make phone calls (no Internet, no phone, no nothing!), the nice AT&T guy decided to hang out and help me with these issues. He called Comcast and set up the service for me. How nice! Funny - he was being paid by AT&T and helping me get set up with Comcast. I wonder how his superiors would feel!

I also called Centerpoint to find out why they didn't show up and they gave me the run-around about some stupid deposit that they never told me about. After two days of trying to find out how to pay the deposit, I finally paid and they finally showed up on Tuesday to turn it on. So - I had to go a couple days without hot water and a oven/stove. Again - fun, huh?

Comcast also came on Tuesday. Since AT&T was stupid in not checking before my appointment whether I could get services or not - I had to go without TV and Internet for a few days. In the old days, that wouldn't have been so bad - but when you live in the world of technology, the Internet means everything. I make phone calls, pay my bills and check my emails. Without the Internet, I'd have no contact with the outside world. Scary.

Finally - with everything turned on and working on Tuesday, my roommate moved in. I thought that things would finally settle down. Nope. No problems here, but a house comes with responsibilities. I've been cleaning out the garage, trying to decorate and watching my bank account take a dent with buying the necessities for the house (toilet paper, anyone?).

It's been fun, but tiring at times. All I can say is that I'm loving the house and good riddance to 3 flights of stairs!

Is It Over Yet?

Wow, I really need to get back to writing more often. After reviewing my last post - I realized just how behind my blog is. So much has happened in my life in just a short period of time. I am having a hard time coping with everything but I'm thrilled with the path my life is taking. Just take it one day at a time, right? Wouldn't hurt to have friends to talk to about it :)

Well - first things first, I didn't take that ASL job offer. First I thought I might take it, then decided "absolutely not." Then a few days later, I woke up feeling anxious about my bills and thought that money would be the way to go. More money = bills paid = happy life, huh? Probably not. I've searched within myself and asked different types of friends for their advice. Funny thing is - I don't even know why I asked for their advice because I already knew what type of responses I'd get from each of them....

J - sure enough, he told me to go for what would make me happy and not for the money. Probably because he went for the money and is miserable.

R and C - Both told me to go for the money. Obviously because they'd like to have better opportunities and their bills paid.

Everyone else - "That's something you have to decide for yourself." Gee - big help from them.

As you can see, after talking to a select few friends - I was getting nowhere.

So.... one morning, I woke up and decided - I better talk to my boss about the possibility of leaving. I talked to her and after a long and productive chat, she convinced me to stay. I have to say - I'm extremely happy with my decision right now.

Now - about the house... yes, I can't resist. 4 MORE DAYS!!! I cannot WAIT to finally move into a house where there's room for my children and dog to run around in. The backyard is super and extremely roomy. I see the possibility of having get-togethers at the house... yay!

I'll say this now... L & P - you guys would be the first people I'd invite. You guys mean lots to me!

Everyday whether I'm packing, watching TV, working or driving - my mind wanders over to the house and the tons of opportunities I'd have. I thought I'd record them here so that I don't forget my ambitions!

1. I'd love to get some canvases and just splash and flick on it to make abstract paintings. Wouldn't that be so cool!?

2. I would really like to get into the garage (or backyard) and try my hand at spray-can painting again. I adore the painting I made over 10 years ago and would like to make more.

3. I really need to have a space where I can do scrapbooking and finally finish the 5 quilts I've started. My bedroom is HUGE so I can set up a nice desk with organizing drawers next to it in the corner of my room for all my craft supplies. One reason why I don't do puzzles or scrapbooking is because my kids will get into them or my cats will sit on them and scatter everything around. With tons of space in my bedroom, I'm hoping I'll be motivated to finish my projects. I can lock my kids, dog and J out of my room and FOCUS! Looks like a trip to "The Container Store" is in the near future! Or probably Hobby Lobby would be good enough.

4. I've always wanted to try my hand at decorating. It takes money and I never felt the need to go all out at an apartment. But I'm hoping that this time around, I'll roll my sleeves up and put some nice looking stuff (and not too expensive) in the house and make it feel like a home.

5. I'd LOVE to get a big flat-screen TV. I'll have the space for it now. Yay!

6. My neighborhood has a walking trail by a creek (or a bayou, whatever it is) and sidewalks all over the place. I'm going to start rollerblading again and allow my kids to ride their bikes on the sidewalks so that we could all get some exercise. Who knows if I'll keep up with it.

7. I can finally get back to working out with my Jillian DVD! I bought it last summer and it requires jumping jacks and stuff like that. There's people below me that doesn't appreciate my working-out, so once I move into the house - I'll have the go-ahead to jump all I want. When I started on the DVD, I worked out 6 days straight and was seeing the difference by day 3. I've LOVE to start feeling that way again!

8. More to come.... :)

Movin' On Up!

Well, it's been a while since I've been back. I don't think I'll be able to write as much as I could before. That's a bummer. Having a full-time job really takes a lot out of a person..

A lot has happened in the last month. Since getting a job (which was supposed to be temporary), I've been promoted to a full-time position that is permanent. I was also given a raise. Two raises, actually - but that's not important....

With my new permanent job and income, I decided it was time to start looking for a new place to live. Almost 4 years here at the apartment on the 3rd floor is enough for me. In order to afford all the deposits, the moving expenses, start up fees, etc - I needed a roommate.. and a roommate I got!

I signed the lease papers on the house on Thursday and I am so thrilled. I am eagerly anticipating moving into a roomy house with a backyard for my children and dog to play in. This house is a little over 2,000 sq feet, has 3 bedrooms and a game room upstairs. We plan on converting the game room into a bedroom for one of the kids. With my roommate helping out with a little bit of the rent, I'm going to be paying LESS than what I am paying now for my apartment. How good is that!?

The kitchen is huge and will be a nice upgrade from the small one I have in my apartment. I no longer have to worry about my children or dog being too loud and bothering the people underneath us...

I took some pictures of the house on my phone when we went to do out final walk-through to make sure we still like the house... and like it, we did!


This.. is the pantry. Huge, huh?

Backyard

Living Room - view from the kitchen. That door is the front door.

Standing in the same place in the kitchen... to the left of the living room is this breakfast room. The living room and breakfast room is divided by a 1/2 wall.

This is the kitchen - view from standing in the breakfast room. Don't worry - that wall isn't pink. It's just bad lighting! If it IS pink (and I think I would have noticed), that wall will be the first I will paint... if I ever do paint.

Nice house, huh? :) I didn't take pics of the upstairs because it's just too much to take pictures of... Ya'll come and visit once I get settled in... ya'hear?!

Not enough time in the day

It's amazing how much 8 hours a day can change your life.

I have been so busy that I haven't had time to write, but that doesn't mean I forgot. Writing, or rather blogging, has always in the back of my mind. Sometimes I'd think of something that I would want to write about and that it would be a really good topic - I've had to push it out of my head and tell myself I'd have to get to it later. Lately, I've been coming up with ideas at the most inopportune times... right when I'm about to fall asleep (how I wish there was a dream recording device or an electronic filing software in your brain), when I'm at work, in a meeting, in church.. basically anywhere that would be inappropriate to whip out the phone and start taking notes. Once, I had the urge to write right before I fell asleep and actually got out of bed to take notes. I started writing and writing - and when I was done, I couldn't sleep. Couldn't sleep for an hour, and I had an early morning the next day. That wasn't fun. I write best when I get the urge to - but as I've learned (and probably all other writers), you don't always get to write at that moment. I guess it's handy to have a word processing software on the computer (at home and where I work) or my phone nearby to take notes with - but it's just not the same as actually sitting down and writing.

Anyway, what's new with me now? Not a whole lot but it certainly feels like my life has changed. First of all, I got a full-time job and I enjoy it (for now). I hate getting up in the morning - that hasn't changed and it never will - but I do look forward to going to work. Yes, you heard me right. It's not because I LOVE my job so much (although I do like it - the hours are good, income is enough, and the people are really nice), but it's because I'm DOING something. I want to feel worthwhile - I want to feel like I'm contributing to something rather than just taking up space and air. While this job isn't my dream job, it's enough to make me happy. I'd love to teach, but I can't say that teaching would be my dream job ... I think I haven't discovered that yet about myself. What do I do? I work for a school apparel company. It's a small company started up by a friend's mother. The company makes t-shirts, handbags, accessories and hairbows (especially hairbows) for girls involved in cheerleading, sports, dance, etc. I really like how my boss values my time and my help there. I have been so busy doing my job and helping several co-workers around the office. It's really nice to feel appreciated.

Enough about my job... let's talk about something fun and exciting. Because I have a job now that pays well and is stable/long-term, I've started looking for another place to live. I've been meaning to move out eventually but never had a good reason to. Why move out and run the risk of having to pay a higher price when income isn't really stable? I started to really think about moving out when I got word that PA might want me to teach there. Back in June, I was contacted about the opportunity to move and teach at a school for the deaf in Scranton, PA. Initially, my response was "no way!" I slowly warmed up to the idea. I discussed it with a close friend and finally came around to telling my parents. Of course, they had their concerns about me moving so far away, but I have family in the northeast so it wouldn't be that bad. After thinking for a while, my decision was made. If I was offered the job, I would move. A month and a half came and went and I heard nothing from PA. My dreams of moving right next door to NYC were dashed.

Over the last two weeks, I was contacted by three different school districts and I was offered a job. Two were long-term substitute positions that would be temporary. One of them MIGHT become permanent but I couldn't take a gamble on that - especially not that I've landed a full-time job. Finally, PA contacts me and tries their hardest to convince me to move up there. They were offering me a substitute to come take over for me until I decided I was ready to move up there and take over. Ultimately, after considering everything, I had to say no. Maybe next year. Hopefully.

With PA spurring my thoughts on moving to a new place (instead of apartments, I had planned to rent a house up there.. cost of living is cheap in that town), I decided that I wanted to move out of this apartment and into something better. When this job came up and I was offered a permanent position, I immediately jumped on the idea of renting a house instead of apartment.

Sooo... for the last week and a half, I've been looking and looking online for houses to rent. I visited four houses over the weekend and fell in love with one of them. The location's great, the price is really good (only $100 more than my apartment), there's a yard for my kids and dog to play in, a nice sized living room and kitchen, includes all the appliances... what's not to like? I had initially wanted a 4-bedroom house and this one was a 3-bedroom. While I have a yard, it's not quite large enough. Sooo, I'm on the hunt again this week for 4-bedroom houses and hopefully will be checking them out soon.

Well, I think I've managed to write an actual chapter on just two little topics - new full-time job and house-hunting. Maybe I have the traits to become a successful (but boring and drawn-out) writer, haha.

As I mentioned above, not much has really changed in my life, but it's enough to make me happy. With a small change such as a full-time job, I feel like it's the starting point to help me become happy in other areas. While money isn't everything, it's obviously very important. I'm being kept busy (maybe too busy, because I still have my obligations as a GED teacher on Tuesday nights, manager of the LBDCC at church, leading the women's retreat, acting as treasurer again for the women's ministry, and filling in for people who tend to flake out on stuff. Let's not forget being a maid, friend, mother, sister and daughter), and I'm rarely alone anymore. I'm always around people now, so I'm grateful for that.

Anyway, it's time to close up shop here and get to bed. My kids are starting their first day of school tomorrow. It'll be my son's very very first day of school and he's super excited! I'll be back tomorrow (or later this week) to write on his blog, armed with photos and maybe a story or two about my son's exciting adventure of starting school!