Tiny Roommate

Today I'm remembering my best friend.  Not that I don't remember her every other day but today marks 2 years since her passing and so it stands out, of course.  I went for a run this morning and pushed a little harder.  Because I am able to run and do all the activities I want. My body allows it.  Hers didn't.  I never fully understood what she went through.  Granted, I saw her breathing treatments and the medicines she took but it never fully registered to me just how sick she was.  Because that wasn't the whole of who she was.  She had cystic fibrosis and that was a huge part of her life, but she wasn't about to take that lying down.  In fact, Jennifer was one of the strongest people I've ever met. I mean this girl was tough.  She kept me going which is crazy because she had so much to deal with on her own.  And I wasn't the only one.  So many people relied on her, went to her for advice, trusted her.  She knew absolutely everything about me, which is a difficult feat.  And she always had fabulous advice.  She was my fashion go-to and my therapist when crazy college life got dramatic.  We lived together, worked together, went to church together (and managed not to hate each other!).  Although I wish we had been able to see each other more in those last couple of years, I can at least hold on to some amazing memories.  I made a trip down to Murray when she was living in those terrible college courts to see the Maroon 5 concert and we laughed as I struggled on the walk back in some awful, way too tall boots.  I'll never forget that crazy night with muffins in the rug.  Taking back as much food as we could from catering which we shoved into our 2 refrigerators (pretty sure that was against the rules in the residential colleges...).  Her whole milk and my skim together in those refrigerators.  Oh and the turkey sandwiches.  And bowls of cereal.  This girl could eat.  Sitting cross legged in her chair in those yellow short shorts, eating a bowl of cereal, watching Friends.  We made a crazy impromptu trip to Memphis one quick weekend, a trip that allowed her to marvel at some diving polar bears at the zoo.  I was there on her wedding day (after other fun bridesmaids-y events), a time I'll never forget.  She backed me and helped me through a struggle only time could heal, and it did, and she knew it would.  I swear she knew everything.  I joked that she knew things before I said them, or knew something was going to happen before it did.  She had that instinct.  So I think there was peace for her at the end. Maybe she stays a little flawless in my mind.  Sure, she had flaws, but I remember her as unwavering. She made me feel welcome, loved, like family. She was my "sister-friend,"  my tiny roommate, my confidant.  Everyday something reminds me of her and I still take as many opportunities as I can to talk about her.  I miss her today and everyday.

Rollercoaster

    Well it's cold once again. Even in Texas today is the perfect day to stay in, drink hot chocolate and make a homemade pizza for dinner. And that's exactly what we're doing! But not before we made a trip to the grocery store where pea size hail hit the plastic roof, amazing all inside.  It was pretty crazy.  We were just scooting through the bulk foods, looking for some dried apricots when all of a sudden...hail! So the wait to clean off the windshield was a bit long but we made it fun.  We also went to mass at St. Michael's this morning which we're considering for a home parish. It's the closest to where we live and the atmosphere is good. I like the opportunities available there for service too. We're still looking around but we know what we don't like so far! I'd like to look into the church down in Plano since that is the closest church that has a Catholic school attached (other than St. Mary's back up in Sherman, which we are NOT going to.)  During mass this morning they had a film and information about the new campaign in the diocese of Dallas to basically raise a ton of money to fund more churches, catholic schools, help aid in vocations, etc.  It (and church in general this morning) really made me think about my upbringing and what I would want for future kids.  Granted, that's way far into the future but it's something that was on my mind today.  Tim and I were both very lucky to have such a firm background in the church (even if our views differ dramatically!) and that's something I really cherish about our relationship.  I've always said if I had kids I would want them to go to church, go to catholic school, because it creates such a well rounded foundation.  I consider myself very blessed to have found a man who feels the same.
    And that man and I have been very busy the past few weeks! We officially moved out of Sherman and into McKinney on the 15th with the help of Tim's wonderful parents.  Really, Tim and his dad did the heavy lifting and I got to do the fun part, packing, unpacking an organizing! Well at least that's fun for me....I love McKinney by the way.  We're closer to everything and can do a lot more now. We went to this place last weekend though...oh golly. Tim wanted to do laser tag so we found a place in Plano that had it plus bowling and games and stuff. Turned out to be super ghetto and very unorganized.  So being..well ourselves...we went to complain and the manager gave us our money back. Not going to that place again. Maybe we'll go to the one in Frisco...At this point though I'm slightly addicted to laser tag.
     And Brazilian steakhouses! So Wednesday was Tim and my anniversary and since I was in Dallas for my internship that night and we figured the weekend might be a better time to go out, we did it up sorta big last night. We talked about going into Dallas for dinner but I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to try stuff there (especially bbq which I'm sooo craving these days).  We just went down to Allen (which is so close it's crazy.) And while Tim tried (and succeeded) at getting his money's worth of meat, I sampled pretty much everything, including the fabulous cinnamon-y pineapple.  Brazilian steakhouse=my new favorite luxury.
    Hmm what else? Well my car is in the shop and will be for a couple of weeks apparently.  Meanwhile I'm in a Cruise (a step up from my Sonic, which I'm not really appreciating when it comes to gas) but at least I'm driving around with a car that isn't smashed in on the back and a piece off in the front.
    I had to change my bank too, since US Bank isn't a thing here, but I'd always considered Bank of America anyway.  I ordered new checks and opted for Cardinals ones. Very exciting.  Speaking of hometown teams, Tim and I happened upon a local pub this week (thurs) and caught some of the SLU basketball game. I'm slightly convinced that my watching the game was bad luck.  Maybe I can watch Murray games and have the opposite effect....
    We also have some tentative plans to make our way down to Austin next weekend for a fun weekend trip.  Still sorting out the details but hopefully it all works out.  It's really just to see the Game of Thrones exhibition that will be there (not the giant music festival that's going on, the main reason why the city is going to be packed).  We also want to check out the capital building since that's a big thing for Tim (I think he wants to beat his dad at visiting state capitals, a feat I don't see him accomplishing.  Tim the first is very well traveled when it comes to state capital buildings.)  Be on the lookout for pictures if we make it down there.
   7 more days til Daylight Savings!!!! Frankly this winter has been freaking amazingly helpful for my SAD; being in St. Louis this year would have just wore me down.  Yesterday it got in the mid 80's here. I had on a sleeveless shirt for Heaven's sake!  And while I hear it was nice-ish up there, when these winter storms hit, they're much more manageable down here.  And Tim's just an idiot when it comes to the cold. It's like he's a Texan, dressing inappropriately for the cold (since I'm convinced Texans don't have cold weather clothes and find this weather extremely confusing enough to just go out in shorts...).  He wore flip flops to church this morning and the grocery store after and a woman walking out at the same time as us looked at him like he was mentally unstable.  Which he kind of is. :)
   Well since I started this post there's been 2 bursts of rain/sleet come down. I couldn't be happier with my hot chocolate in hand chilling out today.  Until next time!

Taking the bad with the good

Well lots going on here in the great state of Texas!  Let's rewind...
    Biggest news of all, Tim and I found an apartment in McKinney where we'll move in 14 days! It's basically our Valentine's Day present to each other; a nice new apartment that isn't a piece of crap and fits all our things comfortably.  Oh and we don't feel like we're going to be murdered or crack addicts are going to keep us up all night. You know, the usual apartment renter concerns. The place is very cute, everything we really need and it's close for both of us to not have such a crazy commute.  Yay for cutting down my 45 minute drive to work everyday.  The worst part of my drive is after I get off 75 and being on 380/University for 20 minutes stopping at every stop light. So now I'm cutting out the 30 minute drive on the highway to just stop at a bunch of red lights.  But at least there's coffee, bagels and enough donut shops to keep anyone satisfied on the way.  (There's a freaking donut shop on every corner down here. It's ridiculous. Oh and the kids at the daycare are constantly coming in with donut holes for breakfast. It's appalling really).  Anyway, the apartment seems pretty safe, has a nice pool and good amenities, we can rent a washer/dryer (which seems a bit like a waste of money but the poor person in me feels nervous about spending a large amount upfront to buy our own instead of paying actually more over time to rent them.) It's also close enough to the dog park in town to take Scout more regularly (like after I get off work) so she can get some of that crazy energy out.  And get more socialization. This dog is super territorial and really wants other dogs to know she's boss.  It's cute but not necessary.  Gotta break that.
     Speaking of this crazy dog, today was graduation day! We had to push it back a week because I had training for my internship last Saturday.  She did great though.  Donna, the trainer absolutely adores her, so much that I think we might drive back up to do the next class with her.  By the time Donna starts an intermediate class up here in Sherman, we'll have already moved to McKinney, but I think we'll try to work it out to do it with her.  The way Tim's working (at least a few hours every Saturday) we could always just tag along and do our class while he's at work.  But Scout is just so eager to please and super smart.  Donna thinks we should even do a tricks class later on and I totally agree.  Tim and I think Scout would do the bang roll over dead trick great.
     So for some not fun news, I was in an accident coming home from work yesterday.  This dude hits me full on in his truck from behind and slams me into the guy in front of me (who couldn't understand that I didn't do it, it was the guy behind me who forced me into him).  Very agitated about this, especially since my car is new.  I'm sure it will all work out fine but it's such an inconvenience to get stuff done with my and Tim's schedules.  Plus his car needs some work too, it makes a weird blomping sound when you make sharp turns.  We also don't need added expenses with the move coming up.  Maybe I'll get a chance to talk to my cute car insurance agent though....
    Weather here has been fabulous. Yesterday it was in the 70's; I was actually sweating at one point.  We took the kids outside and they didn't even need jackets! It's helpful to take 16 couped up 2 year olds outside when they won't let you out a few times a week.  It's kind of ridiculous how warm it needs to be to let them out, just for a half hour.  They really like for it to be above 50 which would be nuts in St. Louis.  Heck we'd put kids in hats, gloves, everything, just to get them outside for 15-20 minutes in 40 degree weather up there. Texas, I tell ya.  Today is chilly though.  And tomorrow we're supposed to get some type of wintery mix type stuff.  Good thing we're staying in and eating junk food!
     I gotta say though (and I've said it before) but I really love Dallas.  I've been there for my internship but every time I'm there it's like oh the city, yay.  I always feel so out of my element because living in Sherman is like living in a hole, but I've got to remember that I'm used to living in a place where I can have pretty much whatever I need.  I find myself asking "Is there a (enter store, restaurant, thing I desperately need) here? Now half the time people don't even know what I'm talking about but a lot of the time it's just in Dallas.  Well no, there's a lot in McKinney or Frisco I just have to search for it.  And of course if I need provel cheese or toasted ravioli I can just go to Allen.  It was definitely a treat having some provel and also being in an establishment that understands my love of St. Louis.  Most of the time I feel like I'm talking about it too much.  "Oh in St. Louis I did this, there's this in St. Louis, blah blah blah."  I don't care. I love my city. But Dallas is great too.  And the internship is a great experience so far, even if it's just been trainings.  We went to the Salvation Army the other night and did stuff with the women and children there.  Very refreshing to get to actually do work that I feel passionate about and am qualified to do.  I feel like I'm on the cusp of finding a job in my field though.
   Well Tim's getting in a few hours at work so it's cleaning time/getting stuff done day for me.  Fortunately I can also just kick back with the next Game of Thrones book (I'm slowly making my way through the books!) It's a lazy weekend and I love it!

Ho Ho Holiday in Texas

That's right, I spent my Christmas here in Texas! Tim went home on Christmas Eve because he's got tonsil surgery tomorrow (finally!).  I've had to work this whole week minus Christmas day.  They closed at 5 on Christmas Eve and some parents got there right at 5 (what the heck were you people doing all day? You just wanted to get rid of your kids!).  I'm a little bummed about not getting to go home, especially since the daycare had asked parents if their kids would be there on these days then didn't staff appropriately.  Every day this week, they've sent people home and have asked me if I wanted to go.  No, now that I can't go home to St. Louis, no I don't want to go.  I want to stay and get some gosh darn hours thank you very much. If you would have figured this out last week then I could have spent Christmas with my families! Makes me kinda mad.  But I figured I'd be staying here, starting a new job and all.
So it was a pretty boring day.  I keep saying that my Christmas comes in a week or so when Tim comes back with all my presents.  Oh and a healthy Tim.  I'm ready for those tonsils to be out! Imagine what it's like to sleep with a wood chipper/pig/congested child and that's what I deal with every night.  This is a long time coming folks!
I started doggie training with Scout last weekend and that's pretty neat.  We think that someone in her past might have tried and failed Sit with her because she gets it pretty well.  We've been practicing at home of course and she's getting pretty good.  I'm just waiting for the day that she stops barking at everything that moves outside.  However I was grateful for her this morning when there was,what I termed "a creature" behind the apartment during our morning potty.  Once I got some daylight to see I realized it was just a stray dog though.  Still, we're close to a big wooded park area and hear wolves or something pretty regularly.  I wouldn't be surprised if a jaguar jumps out at us during a morning poo poo session.
I gotta mention my traffic situation here.  I went to Dallas last week for an interview for an internship and realized just what I'd be getting into going further in to the metroplex.  Let's just say it: Traffic in Dallas is a bitch.  However, I was in rushhour traffic headed toward east Dallas as it got dark.  So it wasn't a fun drive. What I've learned though is that people (typically people in big ass trucks) think they own the left lane.  Usually I'm actually going faster than they are and go past them with my windows down and country music blasting.  I've become a bit of a traffic biatch.  But here's the thing.  I'll take that darn traffic. Because I freaking love Dallas.  Friends, I am a city girl through and through.  I spent 4 years in Murray and loved it dearly but I sure do love seeing tall buildings and huge overpasses.  And Dallas has HUGE overpasses.  I just want to explore the whole darn city.  And I'm guessing that I will because I got that internship.  I've got to work out some surprising new details with SLU but it should be ok.  One of these days I'm gonna have a few Master's degrees people! It will happen! But this internship seems like a great opportunity, plus they can work with my schedule pretty well. And once we make the move to McKinney that commute will be much easier. I'm already checking out apartments!
So my evenings are Tim free which is sorta sad but also nice because I can watch as much Doctor Who as I want and stretch out in the whole bed (even though I probably don't, Scout takes up the other half....).  Keep that silly man of mine in your prayers by the way.  His tonsils are like giant, like the doctor is baffled by the size of them but apparently he's a super good doctor so all should be well.  Still, send some love to my Timmy tomorrow.  Nothing but popsicles and well popsicles for the next week or so!
Now if you'll excuse me...it's Doctor Who time!

Working Girl

Well I have a job!  Gosh I must really love 2 year olds huh? It's an assistant teacher position at that childcare facility in McKinney (the BIG one y'all).  I start on Monday but have CPR training tomorrow since mine wasn't up to date.  I also have an interview for a part time gig on Friday; it's a faith formation assistant at a church in Plano.  It's a temporary thing, just for a particular event they do, but it would be a cool opportunity. So I'm going to convince Tim to take me out to dinner... but really what is there in Sherman?! We'll end up having chinese buffet, I bet.
Meanwhile Scout and I have found and enjoyed a lovely trail at a park nearby.  It is uber warm, not like hot, but pretty darn nice so we've been taking advantage of it! This park is gorgeous though; big lake which the trail wraps around, plus when you get to the end (or beginning, but I prefer to go a certain way) you come out on this great big hill where you can see the whole lake and the sun is just gorgeous over it.  On the other side of the hill there's this wide open space, lots of trees.  I want to take Scout and just run up and down the hills.  But then I would die yo.  My knee has been killing me today so I'm sort of taking it easy.  I guess it knows that the weather is turning.  Darn arthritis.
That's right, the cold is coming to Texas too.  We're supposed to get ice though. No bueno.  Tim's mom and dad are coming down this weekend too (if they survive that drive, ugh I couldn't think of anything worse than that drive at night...oh I bet driving at night in ice/snow would top it!).  So I'll finally get to see Progress, where Tim works, plus he'll get his car back.  I'm sure he's enjoyed driving the Mamaw-mobile this week but that's going bye bye.  I guess we'll probably head into Dallas if we can, however I'm going to push for a nice look through McKinney and Frisco since Tim has now found a love for the latter.  He had a train meeting in Frisco last night at Babe's, a chicken place and he was nice enough to bring me back some leftovers.  Yummy chicken.  Very crispy.  Tim said he liked it better than Hodaks and I'm gonna agree.  Hodak's is good but really St. Louis, it's not that good.  The whole, not getting to eat food in St. Louis thing is kinda bumming me out though.  Like bbq, so much bbq I did not have.  But really, I'm in Texas.  I'm sure I'll forget about St. Louis food soon.
I gotta tell you how much a of a dodo bird I was about this whole license/plates thing yesterday (and Monday!).  I go to the DMV and they say you have to get your plates changed first.  Which means I have to get the car inspected.  I take the car to get inspected and I need the insurance (which was supposed to be on its way to me).  So I go to the insurance office to get my temporary card, go back to the inspection place, then head to the courthouse to get the plates.  The super expensive, super ugly Texas plates.  Then I go back to the DMV, stand in line even more (their system is crap compared to the lovely electronic one in Maplewood yo) and finally get my licence.  Or a piece of paper saying I have my licence.  I can't wait to get the real thing of all these things- licence, title on my car, real insurance card.  I'm very in between right now.  I'm just excited to have work! And leftover chicken!!!

In the Beginning

I got the idea from my fabulous friend Emily to start a blog about this new fantastic journey.  I'm sure there's one or two people who will care to know what the heck I'm doing down here in good ol' Sherman Texas! But if anything, my mom will be reading...maybe.  But I thought it would be good to write about this next step in my life (since it's a big one!) for my own piece of mind plus I'm sure I'll encounter a lot that you know you'll want to hear about!
Starting off with the trip down here then. That U-Haul mess was a big ol' fiasco.  I had ordered basically the smallest u-haul on the face of the earth and had to upgrade a bit on Friday morning.  Keep in mind that I was the one saying that we had to get everything done early.  That's not how it worked out. Tim's dad took the SUV to get the necessary equipment in order to tow the darn trailer and by 2, maybe 3ish we were ready to pack up.  Thank goodness for Tim's dad is all I have to say.  Packed up pretty quickly and spent the evening at my parents after some tasty Ted Drewes (apple pie sundae by the way...yum)
We get our booties into Sherman (or at least Scout and I did) by 7:30 Saturday; Tim was about a half hour behind us because he hauled the trailer and had to go a bit slower.  We stopped a few times; I got fudge, the trip was ok, except for the last 2 hours.  My lord driving in the dark in the middle of nowhere is draining.  Don't do it ok? I'm going to try to avoid that at all costs I tell you!
We unpack both his couch and mine that I never could sell and I'm pretty sure I lost 5 pounds carrying just my couch in. That thing was a hot mess...and I dropped it on my head! It's still a little tender right now! We were half way up the stairs and for some reason the couch bonked me on the head and I'm like "Tim stop I have a head injury."  Thank God he is strong enough to carry some stuff on his own plus basically could hold that couch up while I made sure I didn't have a concussion or anything :) Scout, meanwhile, pouted from the bathroom.  Moving is tough on doggies. Today was the first time we really got out and got to explore and play.  But she's been pretty good while we've unpacked this whole mess.
I gotta tell you, this place was a real shithole before I got here.  Humans probably shouldn't have lived in this crappy apartment.  Tim keeps marveling at the fact that "it looks like an actual place where people live!" and "there's so much food in here now!"  We bought like enough food for the week...This kid has a thing or two to learn about having a nice place and being a grownup I tell you.
On the job front I feel optimistic though.  I had a good interview at a childcare place in McKinney, which is still a bit of a drive from Sherman.  The plan is to move to McKinney once his lease is up here though.  That is not soon enough! This daycare was no Step Ahead though.  It was big! I mean like the 2 year old room I visited was like the half the size of Step Ahead! And there were about 18 kids in the class.  Ratios here are out of control; like 11:1.  Really Texas?  But the kids were adorable and I felt like I fit right in.  It definitely made me miss my kiddos up in St. Louis though.  How will they potty without me!? Yeah, I know, they'll get over it :)
Tomorrow I will navigate the wonderful world of changing my licence plates and driver's licence.  I went to the cruddy little DMV type place today and, of course, I have to get my plates changed before I can get a licence.  So I go to get my fabulous new car inspected tomorrow.  Hopefully I can get it all taken care of in a day or two.
So I'm almost completely unpacked and tomorrow I'll put up my tiny Christmas tree and decorate a little bit to make this place seem more homey.  There's a lot of cute little Christmas-y things around town that I plan on dragging Tim to, plus I'm going to take Scout to the Petco to get her picture with Santa this weekend.  So we're settling.
One thing that hasn't changed...I still need to finish up homework! One more week!