Lessons Learned

This is a sight I would have never seen in Texas. I would never welcome cold weather, but looking out my window this made me smile...



For your pure entertainment I have decided to share just a few of the things Paul and I have learned over the past year.

* Never get a warranty on a car, unless you have loads of money and have nothing better to spend it on.

* Never sign a contract without having calculated exactly what could go wrong, and what it would take to get out of the contract if you needed to.

* You get what you pay for. If it costs $1 including shipping from China, the dollar may be better spent elsewhere.

* When going on long trips in the winter through long canyons on wet roads with no stores around for miles...always pack a spare container of wind shield wiper fluid. It will be worth its weight in gold.

* Don't clean up black mold in your refrigerator just to buy and new one, and have your landlord give the one you cleaned from top to bottom with your bare hands to your upstairs neighbors.

* When moving into and new apartment always check for a dishwasher...it may not come with one.

* Never go to bed with your hair wet in the winter.

* Never take two upper division Math classes in the same semester, unless you want to die a slow and painful death.

* Never assume anything...asking is cheaper!

* You always have more time than you think you do.

* It's harder to get pregnant than most people would generally think...20% chance!

* Sea World is always a good option when looking to get away!

* Never use hotwire.com, unless you don't mind flying out at 2:00 am, or stay in a "3" star hotel that looks like your uncles trailer. I'm pretty sure you won't get your money back.

* Aligators are super cool as long as you can run faster than the fat guy standing next to you!

* Don't be afraid to lose yourself in a good book.

* When an invitation says semi formal, wear a suit....even if your wife tells you not to.

* When given the option to sit it out or dance...always dance.

* Family is always worth your time.

* Don't let people intimidate you.

* Real flight is worth every penny if your husband is addicted to model airplanes.

* When Macey's is selling cereal for $1 a box don't be afraid to buy 70 boxes!

What have you learned this year?

So Long Texas......

Why would anyone ever desire to be misplaced, never feeling like they belong anywhere? Why do I feel homeless today? I hate the in between stages in my life. This must be why I hate moving so much! You have to pack up all your junk just to move into a place that doesn't feel like home. It takes putting pictures up on the walls, doing laundry, and cleaning every crack just to get it to feel and smell like home.

So long Texas...we will truly miss your sunshine, simplicity, and kindness.

Today Paul and I packed everything we own into our little compact car to make the 27 hr drive home. Yes, we will be leaving behind another home (the fifth since we got married)and returning to our original home. I'm so excited to spend time with family (I miss them so much!) and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. It will be a nice little vacation before we return to school. We aren't looking forward to the search for our next apartment, but I'm sure the disgust for looking for an apartment will get lost in all the Christmas celebrations for at least a little while.

Thank you James and Jenny for putting up with us for 5 months...we appreciate it more than you will ever know! We will miss little Dean most of all!



Mom and Dad thanks for being willing to take in a few homeless people for a little while. We promise we won't become permanent!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

In the days of 'Climate Change', I'm glad I work for ExxonMobil

Today was my last day working at ExxonMobil Chemical. This has been an invaluable experience. I never had so much fun working. Great people, great company, and awesome work. I could do this for the rest of my life.

















They even gave me a polo. That's all I ever wanted. Now I can be cool like my brother.
Paul

Happy Birthday Dad!

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of face forward smiling pictures of my Dad. He doesn't seem to like the camera in his face. I don't know why...he is definitely one of the best looking men I know. I'm a little sad today because I can't be home spending time with him on his birthday. It's times like these that make me home sick. So I thought I would brag about him a little bit to make myself feel better for missing his birthday.
Dad I love you more than you will ever know! I only hope that someday I will have as much faith, as much endurance, as much courage, and as much love as you do. You have always been there to provide and care for me, and have always given of yourself and your time. You have always taught me that nothing was impossible...I still believe that!
You have given me more gifts than I could ever ask for. I hope this birthday you get everything you wish for! Happy Birthday Dad! I miss you!

You think you're having a bad day...

In areas where it rains buckets at a time they have these deep ditches to contain all the water. Well this morning a local trucker is having a bad day. I know it's terrible but I laughed so hard. I even went outside to get a picture because I figured it would be a better view!

View from the street














View from my bedroom window














That might go on your trucking record!

Christmas in Texas

Friday morning we were expecting snow...fortunately for me that doesn't happen very often here. I can honestly say that it was a welcomed surprise when I opened my blinds, but only because I knew it would be gone only hours after it came. I guess people in Texas don't know what to do when it snows. I almost had to laugh when I heard Paul was coming home from work at 1:00 in the afternoon, and the school next to us was sending all of the kids home. Snow Day! I'll admit it was pretty awesome to have Paul home early for the weekend. We watched a movie, drank hot chocolate, and played Christmas music all afternoon. All I have to say is....Let it Snow!

Sea World, San Antonio

I felt like a little kid. My body willing me to run toward the park. Between the line for tickets, and the security check at the entrance it took a little longer to get into the park than expected. Our goal was to see everything before we left. Why pay such a large amount of money and not do everything once, or several times?
When we first arrived I was a little worried about sitting in the "splash zones". I had this little battle with my inner child. I really wanted to get wet because how often to you get splashed by a whale? At the same time I just straighten my hair the evening before and I had this image of myself looking like a drown rat with curly hair and no gel to tame the frizz. So I just did it, at the first show I was a little disappointed. The little sea lions weren't enough to splash me....and the walrus didn't even get into the water!
















I really can't blame the walrus for his unfortunate weight and the fact that he probably could do a flip if he wanted to. However, it was pretty funny to watch him to a couple sit-ups!





And the Sea Lions did find it in themselves to sing a little Christmas carol for me.




I've always wanted to pet a dolphin...or swim with one, but we'll save that part for later. I thought it was cute, because Paul was willing to do anything to get me the opportunity. When we got there for the first session the line was so long that we weren't going to get through in the hour slot they had available. Luckily we walked by toward the end and they were still allowing people to feed them. It was honestly one of the coolest things I have ever done! Paul and I walked around the rest of the day so proud that we had touched a dolphin.














I was a little sad that we didn't get any pictures of both of us together. This is the only one I was able to get of Paul after riding a few roller coasters. He looks real happy to get his picture in front of the penguins!



I am officially a roller coaster junkie! There was one roller coaster that was fairly similar to splash mountain at Disney. It made quite a large splash at the bottom and poor Paul was in one of the outside seats. He got soaked...and I laughed.
When it got dark and everyone went home I was still pushing him through the lines. I guess it's the adrenaline that gets me. I feel bad because he finally told me that he was cold. Wind and wet clothes...I should have thought about it for a second.
So I gave him my hoodie, and we went to see the Shamu show again!





Isn't it everyone's goal when they go to Sea World to see Shamu? After watching these girls ride and come out of the water on the tops of these large beasts, I was sure that in some other life I was meant to have a career at Sea World with Shamu at my side. If I could start all over again I'm pretty sure I would skip the pain of a music degree and swim with the killer whales. I think it would be the coolest profession in the world, even if I only got paid 6 dollars an hour.



So if you haven't been to Sea World in a while, you might want to take the opportunity to feel like a child again. It will be worth every penny! You might just find yourself wishing you were swimming with whales instead of sitting in an office or doing research.