Uncle Leon showed up a little after six on Saturday. Tall, skinny, Uncle Leon with his blue polo and checkered blue shorts (squee!!! I love him!!!!!!), soft voice that just faintly reminds me of my dad...
We headed off to Ellie's Lebanese Cuisine ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY WERE CLOSED THIS WEEKEND WITH NO EXPLANATION. (*COUGH* It's definitely a conspiracy now) Well, then we decided on Southern BBQ and headed off to Maurice's.
Along the way we talked about my siblings, my job, Stu's school, etc., and then when we sat down to eat we talked about Uncle Leon.
Apparently he's moving to Baltimore to work for the company that has Wizards of the Coast as a subsidiary. So, he works for the company that is responsible for WOW. Apparently there's a new game coming out and Uncle Leon is in the customer service section, so...He has to game to get to know the product!! HOW COOL!!! :P
Anyway, Maryland is closer than Florida (not really but we're more likely to go up that way) so I'm thinking we might have a chance of seeing him sooner than five years, which is what happened last time.
Also: Uncle Leon and I are the most alike out of all the brothers - we are both the 'black sheep,' we both love the Muppets, and we both HAVE THE SAME HAND GESTURES. So weird!!!! (But cool). Anyway.
I love him.
He's one of those people that I could hang out with for hours and hours and we'd have a good time just sitting quietly or talk and laugh or play games or whatever.
Sigh. I wish he lived closer.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday
I just got a FaceBook message from my favorite uncle, who lives in Miami.
He is driving through South Carolina and asked if Stu and I wanted to meet up for a late dinner.
He just so happens to be my FAVORITE uncle, so I was like, "UM, YES?!?!?!"
I'm totally blown away though. Uncle Leon (he's the youngest) was in a huge family drama with his other three brothers (Loren, Larry, & then my dad, Lonnie) a long time ago and I think they were accusing him of being homosexual.
So, he withdrew and hasn't contacted anyone much - he goes to see his dad and step-mom occasionally and whenever there's a wedding, he's there, but otherwise, we never hear from him.
Which breaks my heart. He is so fun, and hilarious, and sweet. So sweet. I think he takes after his mother.
And even if he is gay, I'm not sure that he's living that lifestyle anymore, and I think that he's even going to church. No matter what he IS doing, he is totally my favorite and I can't wait to see him.
I'm almost crying thinking of seeing him. I haven't seen him for...about 4 or 5 years now, and before that, for about 10 years. I think I remember seeing him two or three times in my life.
We're friends on facebook, but of course you never chat much with people on there (or at least, I don't), but we'd talked about seeing him if we ever went down to Florida.
I'm so grateful that he wants to get together and initiated that on his own. I love him so much and I am really, really looking forward to seeing him Saturday night.
My day just got 10,000% better. :)
He is driving through South Carolina and asked if Stu and I wanted to meet up for a late dinner.
He just so happens to be my FAVORITE uncle, so I was like, "UM, YES?!?!?!"
I'm totally blown away though. Uncle Leon (he's the youngest) was in a huge family drama with his other three brothers (Loren, Larry, & then my dad, Lonnie) a long time ago and I think they were accusing him of being homosexual.
So, he withdrew and hasn't contacted anyone much - he goes to see his dad and step-mom occasionally and whenever there's a wedding, he's there, but otherwise, we never hear from him.
Which breaks my heart. He is so fun, and hilarious, and sweet. So sweet. I think he takes after his mother.
And even if he is gay, I'm not sure that he's living that lifestyle anymore, and I think that he's even going to church. No matter what he IS doing, he is totally my favorite and I can't wait to see him.
I'm almost crying thinking of seeing him. I haven't seen him for...about 4 or 5 years now, and before that, for about 10 years. I think I remember seeing him two or three times in my life.
We're friends on facebook, but of course you never chat much with people on there (or at least, I don't), but we'd talked about seeing him if we ever went down to Florida.
I'm so grateful that he wants to get together and initiated that on his own. I love him so much and I am really, really looking forward to seeing him Saturday night.
My day just got 10,000% better. :)
Friday, September 17, 2010
Commence Secrets Notebook 2.0 and Move, Move, Move!
I found an old huge notebook that I haven't been using in ages so I've decided to turn it into my second secrets journal (I ran out of pages to collage in my other one) since Wal-Mart refuses to carry anything helpful in the journaling arena.
I've glued 2-3 pages together for stouter paper and spent several happy minutes gluing more of my magazine clipping collection onto the pages. I'm slowly filling up my first book with secrets and I was getting antsy wondering where the second one was going to come from and when it would arrive!
I've got a haircut on Monday so that I can look more like Shirley MacLaine for the Murder Mystery party...pretty excited about that...and now I just need mascara and an outfit.
Eliminating unnecessary items is easy, but actually physically getting rid of it is hard. I have several trash bags lying around the house, some bins to go through (STILL), and many, many overflowing boxes of things that are going to the thrift store...I think once Saturday hits and all the extra furniture/books/movies/dishes are gone, the house will feel much more empty. Then I can get on with the cleaning/packing.
Cynde (my boss) came over to help me pack yesterday afternoon (TOTAL BLESSING!) and we packed up about 95% of the kitchen (few more dishes in the fridge, some food in the pantry, and the few dishes we're keeping out to use for next week). We also got most of my craft room done (about 98%, just the dollhouse stuff and the sheets/pillows from the twin mattress left). Stu got most of his study done, and all that's left in our bedroom is clothes. Also, the attic is 100% EMPTY.
So that leaves us with:
Music room (most of that stuff is going to the thrift store, so about 80% is done)
Living Room/Laundry room - 80% done (finish packing DVDs and miscellaneous stuff, 1 more bin)
Bathroom - 95% complete (I cleaned it, we just have stuff we're using)
Hallway - 85% complete (several bins/needs to be vacuumed)
Whew. We have next week to pack/clean and then we move out Monday the 27th or Tuesday the 28th. We are staying with Cynde for 3-4 nights, and then we move into our house!
The only other thing we have to worry about is storing our stuff - next week we have to take our things to Michael and Elizabeth's (hopefully we won't have to bug Gina...I kind of want all our stuff to stay in one place!) and then live out of a suitcase for most of the week.
3 moves in 2 years. Really hoping we don't continue this streak.
...but I'm really excited about the apartment. :)
I've glued 2-3 pages together for stouter paper and spent several happy minutes gluing more of my magazine clipping collection onto the pages. I'm slowly filling up my first book with secrets and I was getting antsy wondering where the second one was going to come from and when it would arrive!
I've got a haircut on Monday so that I can look more like Shirley MacLaine for the Murder Mystery party...pretty excited about that...and now I just need mascara and an outfit.
Eliminating unnecessary items is easy, but actually physically getting rid of it is hard. I have several trash bags lying around the house, some bins to go through (STILL), and many, many overflowing boxes of things that are going to the thrift store...I think once Saturday hits and all the extra furniture/books/movies/dishes are gone, the house will feel much more empty. Then I can get on with the cleaning/packing.
Cynde (my boss) came over to help me pack yesterday afternoon (TOTAL BLESSING!) and we packed up about 95% of the kitchen (few more dishes in the fridge, some food in the pantry, and the few dishes we're keeping out to use for next week). We also got most of my craft room done (about 98%, just the dollhouse stuff and the sheets/pillows from the twin mattress left). Stu got most of his study done, and all that's left in our bedroom is clothes. Also, the attic is 100% EMPTY.
So that leaves us with:
Music room (most of that stuff is going to the thrift store, so about 80% is done)
Living Room/Laundry room - 80% done (finish packing DVDs and miscellaneous stuff, 1 more bin)
Bathroom - 95% complete (I cleaned it, we just have stuff we're using)
Hallway - 85% complete (several bins/needs to be vacuumed)
Whew. We have next week to pack/clean and then we move out Monday the 27th or Tuesday the 28th. We are staying with Cynde for 3-4 nights, and then we move into our house!
The only other thing we have to worry about is storing our stuff - next week we have to take our things to Michael and Elizabeth's (hopefully we won't have to bug Gina...I kind of want all our stuff to stay in one place!) and then live out of a suitcase for most of the week.
3 moves in 2 years. Really hoping we don't continue this streak.
...but I'm really excited about the apartment. :)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Happy Dance
Things I'm happy about today:
1. 1 1/2 more weeks until we are out of our house!
2. Murder Mystery party coming up on Oct. 1!
3. Hot chocolate and strawberry poptarts for breakfast!
4. Prayer Day tomorrow!
5. Evening prayer Tues/Thurs!
6. New (temporary) collage journal found!
7. Agatha Christie mystery to read!
8. Short work week this week!
Things I'm worried about today:
1. We just found out we have absolutely no money when yesterday we had $70...somehow, magically, $30-$40 just disappeared from my bank account...I've gone through and looked but I'm just not sure it's adding up. It's not even showing Netflix (drafted on the 8th) or the powerbill (paid yesterday)...what is going on?!
58. For Guidance
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and
light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all
our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou
wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save
us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see
light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-from The Book of Common Prayer (online @ bcponline.org)
1. 1 1/2 more weeks until we are out of our house!
2. Murder Mystery party coming up on Oct. 1!
3. Hot chocolate and strawberry poptarts for breakfast!
4. Prayer Day tomorrow!
5. Evening prayer Tues/Thurs!
6. New (temporary) collage journal found!
7. Agatha Christie mystery to read!
8. Short work week this week!
Things I'm worried about today:
1. We just found out we have absolutely no money when yesterday we had $70...somehow, magically, $30-$40 just disappeared from my bank account...I've gone through and looked but I'm just not sure it's adding up. It's not even showing Netflix (drafted on the 8th) or the powerbill (paid yesterday)...what is going on?!
58. For Guidance
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and
light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all
our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou
wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save
us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see
light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-from The Book of Common Prayer (online @ bcponline.org)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Apple, Chips, & Salsa
That's the food currently sitting on my desk. I decided to get my veggies AND fruit this morning...I'd been craving chips and salsa for weeks, so I finally bought some the other day. So tasty.
I knitted my first hat! I'm surprised it turned out so well - I was looking for an easy pattern but since I don't really do patterns, I just modified one I found. I absolutely cannot stand having to knit "in the round," which I've never done successfully, so I just knitted a flat hat and k2 together when the hat was big enough. Then you just sew it up the back! Only a few hours knit time, very simple.
I got some cool knitting books at the library so hopefully inspiration strikes and I can do all sorts of cool things - there are patterns in there for knitted boxes (!!!)...and I found out that I can knit things in miniature using my 0 size needles! (I've already done blankets, but I have plans for rugs, washcloths, boxes, and beanies)
That's about all the excitement for today.
No book cover for Mae: Intergalactic Au Pair yet, and the packing is going but slow until we get boxes next week. Luckily, ALL our extra stuff will be gone by Saturday, so that's nice. A small Christian thrift store offered to pick everything up!!!
And now to begin planning out the decorating for the apartment...we'll have to do it slowly, piece by piece, but Stu is taking the bedroom (modern black/white), I'm doing the living room (old world brown/red/orange/gold), and we're doing the kitchen together (Asian red/black). I'm pretty excited!
That's it for today.
I knitted my first hat! I'm surprised it turned out so well - I was looking for an easy pattern but since I don't really do patterns, I just modified one I found. I absolutely cannot stand having to knit "in the round," which I've never done successfully, so I just knitted a flat hat and k2 together when the hat was big enough. Then you just sew it up the back! Only a few hours knit time, very simple.
I got some cool knitting books at the library so hopefully inspiration strikes and I can do all sorts of cool things - there are patterns in there for knitted boxes (!!!)...and I found out that I can knit things in miniature using my 0 size needles! (I've already done blankets, but I have plans for rugs, washcloths, boxes, and beanies)
That's about all the excitement for today.
No book cover for Mae: Intergalactic Au Pair yet, and the packing is going but slow until we get boxes next week. Luckily, ALL our extra stuff will be gone by Saturday, so that's nice. A small Christian thrift store offered to pick everything up!!!
And now to begin planning out the decorating for the apartment...we'll have to do it slowly, piece by piece, but Stu is taking the bedroom (modern black/white), I'm doing the living room (old world brown/red/orange/gold), and we're doing the kitchen together (Asian red/black). I'm pretty excited!
That's it for today.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Plotting Party, Packing/Moving, Newness, & Etc.
After several failed attempts at writing a blog entry the past few weeks, I finally have both time and desire to try again. This year is going to be so much busier at work...we've added on several more parts to my job and we've added a new program that ADS is helping with, so...I'm looking forward to it!
Part of my new schedule this year is leading the Old Testament Survey Study Group. Despite my love for the class, I've always dreaded the study group because it is mostly auditory - reading the notes aloud, quizzing, and then you're done. SO. DULL. I've decided that this year, we will review last week's information through an activity, as well as having auditory and visual aids. This will hopefully catch everybody's learning styles in one way or another, and I won't be bored. WIN! Next week we are doing a crossword puzzle (YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN CROSSWORD PUZZLES ONLINE!).
I am also coaching a student once a week - the student will meet me and we will talk about the week, the homework, etc., and figure out how to be less stressed/more productive with our time. I love this particular student alot, having met them previously, and am very, very excited about coaching!
We are also beginning the Probation Intervention program, which will allow us one-on-one meetings with students on probation to help them come up with an academic plan that will allow them to raise their GPA and eventually graduate. It is viewed as a helpful tool instead of a punishment (hopefully by the students too) and I am hoping that through these interactions, the students will realize that we really do care about them and their success, academically but also spiritually, emotionally, etc.
I'm also working on a Learning Styles binder that will have helpful study tips and examples for each learning style (8).
Also on the docket are updating mock exams for Old Testament, New Testament, Western Civilization, etc. and updating our portion of the website, re-decorating ADS bulletin boards/office...also making promotional materials for seminars we are having that are connected to ADS.
The other thing I'll be working on is securing textbooks for disabled students.
Yes. All of those are my job. I love it! So many things to work on! So much creativity allowed! YAY!
Anyway.
Whew.
Tonight I am taking a break from work and home and visiting my lovely friend Vikki. We are having an information plotting bash for our novels that we are going to write during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month - November! 2 Months Away!!!). We are going to collage, scribble, brainstorm, knit, watch TV, eat cupcakes, and type away as we figure out what our stories are going to be about/who the characters are/what our cover looks like/etc. SO EXCITING.
We are behind on packing merely because we don't have many boxes at present. We are getting rid of a ton of stuff (thank goodness) and only keeping the bare minimum since we're going from a 3 bedroom, two living room house to a 4 room (total) house. Can I just say what a blessing it is that the CIU apartments are open?! Free cable, internet, water, disposal, dishwasher; you don't have to get your own electricity account with the city (BIG blessing since the deposit is monstrous), and a $75 credit each month for the bill. All in all, I predict we'll be saving $150-$200 a month or more, since we won't be using as much gas.
A new place to start over. It's never been dirty. There's a dishwasher, new appliances, new carpet, big windows, a smaller space...yeah. I'm definitely looking forward to it. I am reading a book called "Bedroom Essentials" and it's about creating a haven away for yourself...there are dozens of awesome photos and it has already given me some ideas!
I can't wait.
Part of my new schedule this year is leading the Old Testament Survey Study Group. Despite my love for the class, I've always dreaded the study group because it is mostly auditory - reading the notes aloud, quizzing, and then you're done. SO. DULL. I've decided that this year, we will review last week's information through an activity, as well as having auditory and visual aids. This will hopefully catch everybody's learning styles in one way or another, and I won't be bored. WIN! Next week we are doing a crossword puzzle (YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN CROSSWORD PUZZLES ONLINE!).
I am also coaching a student once a week - the student will meet me and we will talk about the week, the homework, etc., and figure out how to be less stressed/more productive with our time. I love this particular student alot, having met them previously, and am very, very excited about coaching!
We are also beginning the Probation Intervention program, which will allow us one-on-one meetings with students on probation to help them come up with an academic plan that will allow them to raise their GPA and eventually graduate. It is viewed as a helpful tool instead of a punishment (hopefully by the students too) and I am hoping that through these interactions, the students will realize that we really do care about them and their success, academically but also spiritually, emotionally, etc.
I'm also working on a Learning Styles binder that will have helpful study tips and examples for each learning style (8).
Also on the docket are updating mock exams for Old Testament, New Testament, Western Civilization, etc. and updating our portion of the website, re-decorating ADS bulletin boards/office...also making promotional materials for seminars we are having that are connected to ADS.
The other thing I'll be working on is securing textbooks for disabled students.
Yes. All of those are my job. I love it! So many things to work on! So much creativity allowed! YAY!
Anyway.
Whew.
Tonight I am taking a break from work and home and visiting my lovely friend Vikki. We are having an information plotting bash for our novels that we are going to write during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month - November! 2 Months Away!!!). We are going to collage, scribble, brainstorm, knit, watch TV, eat cupcakes, and type away as we figure out what our stories are going to be about/who the characters are/what our cover looks like/etc. SO EXCITING.
We are behind on packing merely because we don't have many boxes at present. We are getting rid of a ton of stuff (thank goodness) and only keeping the bare minimum since we're going from a 3 bedroom, two living room house to a 4 room (total) house. Can I just say what a blessing it is that the CIU apartments are open?! Free cable, internet, water, disposal, dishwasher; you don't have to get your own electricity account with the city (BIG blessing since the deposit is monstrous), and a $75 credit each month for the bill. All in all, I predict we'll be saving $150-$200 a month or more, since we won't be using as much gas.
A new place to start over. It's never been dirty. There's a dishwasher, new appliances, new carpet, big windows, a smaller space...yeah. I'm definitely looking forward to it. I am reading a book called "Bedroom Essentials" and it's about creating a haven away for yourself...there are dozens of awesome photos and it has already given me some ideas!
I can't wait.
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