snapshots of our life.

To the 27th floor that is!  Which is where my new job is located.  My ears pop going up and they pop coming down.  On a whim a few weeks ago I submitted my resume to a part time job/internship Accounting position with an investment firm in Atlanta.  I was nervous about doing it because it was change, but got the push I needed from Craig.  (Which seems to be a pattern.) After two interviews and a few weeks of waiting it out, I found out on Friday that I got the job.  I gave my notice on Friday afternoon and I start at the new job on the 22nd.

I can’t help but feel proud of myself.  Out of all of the job applicants that applied through our schools Career Connection website, I was picked to interview.  And after an initial interview I was picked to come back.  And after coming back to meet with the stock trader and the CEO, I was picked for the job.  Who knows where this could lead.  It may lead to a full time job at the end.  Or it may not.  Either way, I’ll be working directly under the Controller, a CPA, soaking up as much of his knowlege as possible.  No more mindless tasks that I thought I would be ok with doing.  I need to be challenged.  And I’m really excited about this new journey.

Not to mention that I have a meeting with a professor of mine on Monday.  Apparently I got some crappy advice when I first went back to school in January and didn’t need half the classes I’ve taken.  Which means I might not need as many as I still plan on taking. 

Good things are happening. 

Just because I can’t post without posting pictures.  Here are a couple from our trip to the lake this weekend.  We found out this morning that Ms. Betty, who is Mr. Bill’s mom (who owns the lake house we’ve been going to with our friend Donna) passed away this morning.  We just saw her last on Sunday.  We went for a midnight boat ride on the pontoon.  She was listening to her favorite singer, Dean Martin and showing us how she could still do the jig.

That is what I was today.  I have deligently been trying to win the $100 in free gas on Q100.  I never try for any radio contest but for weeks I’ve been hooked on winning this one.  For some reason I just got a feeling about it.  Today at 7:20 pm I dialed the memorized number the minute I heard the little jingle that signaled the contest was about to begin.  I was caller 61.  Hung up, called right back, and I hear “Caller 99.”  I was screaming “Noooooooooooo wayyyyyyyyy” as she hung up on me.  Now I’m ever more determined to win it. 

Last weekend we went to the Braves game.  Chas and Brian went with us.  I love my friendship with Chastity for the simple fact that it is easy.  I love it for more reasons than that but it is just so easy to pick back up.  We hadn’t hung out with them since December and it’s probably been about that since I’ve even talked to her.  But it’s like we don’t miss a beat. 

And I’m back in school for another semester.  I’m excited about new classes and getting further along in the program, but it always makes me feel like I have so much more to go at the start of every semester. 

Tomorrow is a big day!  Fingers crossed that things go the way I want them to.

I’m taking a break from studying.  I’m probably going to make a B in my Management in Organizations class and I can’t make myself study much more for it.  It is what it is.  I guess it is good that I’m getting a B (hopefully) this semester so I don’t feel the need to be such an overachiever.  But I was really trying to get all A’s again this semester. 

Anyways, two more finals tomorrow and then I have a nice two week break before Fall semester starts back up.  I’ll have nine classes completed (not bad for 8 months) and 13 more to go.  If I stay on my track I’ll have another year before I have the Accounting degree.  Some days it flies by, other times I don’t feel like it will ever get here. 

Still loving it though, besides this dreaded Management class.  I’m loving Accounting.  Bracing myself because next semester I start my intermediate level classes, but I feel ready for it.  I’ll feel even more ready for it after this two break I’m about to have.

Craig left this morning at four to go to work.  I wasn’t able to go back to sleep right away, so I was up looking through my scrapbooks.  I noticed a certain theme throughout the pictures was this kid.

And I just had to blog about her.  Just to have to remember when we both get older.  I share a really special bond with my cousins Steve and Kim.  They are both a good bit older than I am since my mom was the youngest of four and their mother was the oldest.  For three birthdays in a row (seven, eight, and nine), Kim took me to Six Flags to celebrate.  They spent time with me at family functions.  They picked the hell out of me when I was little (and still do), which I wasn’t used to on a regular basis because I didn’t have siblings (my half brother lived with his mom).  My skin thickened up a good bit because of their double teaming, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.  If they didn’t pick on me now, I’d think something was wrong.  I’ve grown up with them and I have always looked up to them.   Now I get to share that bond with their kids. 

We laugh because every holiday or family gathering I always get stuck at the “kid’s table”.  It never fails.  I can sit down with full intent of being mixed in with other adults at the table, but by the time places have been set and some things moved around, I’m sitting in the kid’s section.  And to be honest I wouldn’t want it any other way. 

I love this kid.   I think we relate to each other so well because some of our family have said that she is a lot like me when I was that age.  Shy at times, mischevious at others, always up to something. 

Last weekend when we were helping my aunt pack up her house, every now and then I’d feel Celia sneak up behind me and put her arms around my waist.  I made a comment to my mom when she walked away about what a cool kid she is.  And my mom said it probably has a lot to do with how much loves me.  But the feeling is mutual.  I think everyone should have a Celia in their life. 

I just feel really lucky to watch my second cousins, nieces, and nephews grow up.  To be even a small part of their life.  And I’m sure that’s what it feels like to have kids but on a much larger scale because they are your own. 

Just something that has been on my mind lately.  My Uncle Hank recently passed away and I think when something like that happens it just makes you appreciate what you have.  He was a strong presence in our family get togethers and now that he is gone I can’t imagine how different the next holiday meal is going to be.  But it has also made me appreciate the relationships I have with my family memebers even more.  I know a lot of people out there aren’t necessarily close with their extended family.  When something happens with ours we all pull together and rally around each other.  And I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of a family like that.

We had so much fun last weekend.  Unfortunely I’m a loser and left both cameras at home.  So we are relying on other to get some pictures from the weekend.  Which is so hard on a camera around my neck wearing, picture taking freak. 

We spent the weekend in Clanton, Alabama.  I would not be surprised if you have not heard of it.  It was out in the middle of no where.  But it was out in the middle of a gorgeous no where with a gorgeous lake and really fun people.  Our friend Donna has a friend with a lake house there (that is also his everyday house which makes me incredibly jealous).  Her friends were really chill and fun.  And we felt like we came away from the weekend with a new set of friends, too.  Duke did, too. 

Craig got extremely lucky.  And when I say extremely, that is the understatement of the season.  We went tubing on Friday.  He and I both.  We got tossed around pretty bad on the back of the boat.  He got in another boat at some point.  When we got back to the dock one of the girls picks up a ring from the back dive platform on the boat and asks whose ring it was.  I don’t know how the heck it stayed there the whole ride back to the house and how that ring did not end up on the bottom of Lake Mitchell.  He was on ring restriction for the rest of the weekend and was given it back on Sunday morning before we left.  His poor face dropped in between the time I took his hand and asked where his ring was and pulled it out of my pocket to show him I had it. 

He took the entry level test of the Firefighter exam today and he passed.  He said about a third of the people didn’t.  I’m so proud of him.  Next he has a background check and then hopefully an oral interview.  We spent the afternoon getting documents together, military separation papers, high school diplomas, etc.  We found a notebook that had months of printed e-mails in it.  I got to reading them and realized that it was our e-mails back and forth to each other before we ever met in person.  So instead of studying for my two tests tomorrow, I was reading e-mails outloud to Craig while he gathered necessary documents for the Fire Department.  It was a really good afternoon. 

Now I’m off to study somemore.  Only more 6 more class meetings before the semester is over.  I can’t wait. to get these three classes behind me. 

And because I hating posting without a picture and don’t have the pictures yet from this weekend, here is one of Craig and I inflight in our bi-plane ride.  Another highlight to today, we finally got our pictures in the mail. 

Today was awesome.  Hands down one of the best days ever!  We went for our bi-plane ride in Kennesaw.  We had the choice of going in to Atlanta or staying out of the city and doing a few fun maneuvers.  When Craig and I heard that we both knew we’d rather stay out of the city.  He is technically supposed to do any aeorbatics in that plan (they have a seperate one seater plane for that) but we did what he called wing maneuvers and it was crazy!   We went through a cloud and got to stick our hands out and actually feel what a cloud feels like.  Our pilot was hilarious and very personable. 

We have more in flight pictures coming within the next two weeks.  But this was a self-portrait (which Craig and I are very good at) that we took prior to take off.  It was hands down one of the best experience of my life. 

Thanks again mom!  We had fun hanging out with you today.

Ever since Craig and I fostered the golden retriever from Adopt-a-Golden Atlanta, I get their newsletter once sometimes twice a months.  I got this list of commandments for dogs when we adopted Duke, but misplaced it.  Just thought it was cute to share.

10 Commandments of Dogs   My life is likely to last about 10-15 years. Any separation from you will be painful to me. Remember that before you adopt me. Give me time to understand what you want from me. Place your trust in me. It is crucial to my well- being. Don’t be angry at me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You may have your work, your entertainment and your friends, I have only you. Be aware that however you treat me, I’ll never forget. Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that can crush the bones in your hand. Yet I choose not to. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food or I’ve been in the sun too long or my heart is getting old and weak. Take care of me when I get old. You, too, will grow old. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, “I can’t bear to watch it” or “Let it happen in my absence.” Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember I love you. Things have been busy.  Trying to work as much as possible and finish up with my Maymester.  My final is on the 3rd.  Craig booked our Vintage Bi Plane ride.  Mom got us a gift certificate for Christmas and we’ve hung on to it until the weather turned nice and their was color back in everything.  We were going to do it next weekend to celebrate 25 years (woop woop), but they were booked.  So we scheduled it for the 22nd (closer to Anna’s 25 years – that’s how I’ll personally celebrate her 25 years).  So excited about this.  Thanks again Mama!

We worked on our bedroom this morning.  Mark the painter who likes to drink beer came over today to hlp us finish painting it.  While I worked on our curtains.  I don’t believe in buying things full price if you can do a little bit of work on it to save up to $50 bucks.  So I bought the fabric at JoAnn’s for half off and a little Liquid Stitch and waa-lah!

We still have a lot more to do on it.  But I LOVE how it is turning out.

Today marks two years that Craig and I have been married.  Two years ago today the bottom fell out of the sky, I felt the prettiest I’ve felt in my life, some AMAZING people were laying hay to cover the soaking ground, I married my best friend, and spent the day surrounded by all the people we love.  I wish Craig and I could get married all over again each year.  I will never forget our wedding day.  It was perfect.

We have done a lot of growing and changing the last two years.  The first year we were figuring things out and learning how to live together.  We went through a lot of changes and a lot of adjusting.  This year has been amazing.  We have grown so much together and in our marriage.  He has been such an amazing support system.  He pushes me to do what I love and follow my dreams.  Never doubts what I am capable of doing while I second guess my every move.  We balance each other out so well.  In a lot of ways, we are so opposite and I honestly think that’s why we work so well together.  I don’t know what I’d do without him.

We spent the weekend at our neighbors’ cabin in Blue Ridge.  We are trying to make a habit of at least sticking to a weekend trip every year to get away together for anniversaries.  So far we’re two for two. 

On our way home, pulled over on the side of the road to try and get one before leaving.

On our way to dinner at Longhorns in Ellijay.  Around 7 o’clock and the light was gorgeous!

Sun workings its way down.  Had to take a picture of my happy thought.

Once he spotted the pond there was no way of getting him out of it.

As our anniversary gift to each other this year, we are slowly but surely trying to redecorate our bedroom.  The photo below is our color pallette.  We’re trying to do it right this time so we don’t have to redo it later like we’ve been doing since we’ve moved in.  The off-white color will be our walls.  The dark brown will be similar to the color we will paint our furniture.  Craig is building us a headboard so we won’t be practially sleeping on the floor anymore.  The curtains will be the green color.  The bedspread will be the tan color.  And we’ll accent with reds, greens, and oranges.  Hopefully it turns out as good as I see it in my head.  Definitely need something different in there.  Something besides the color Bullfrog green.  Not sure what I was thinking