My new love

After spending a tremendous amount of time lost and driving aimlessly on Tuesday, my sweet husband went out and bought me a TomTom. This invention is the greatest! Tom has cut my driving time in half in the field, and my frustration and stress levels by at least 95%. Wednesday and Thursday were wonderful! But, like any other relationship, as the new wears off, you take off the rose colored glasses, you begin to see things differently. For instance, Tom directing me to the wrong Kershaw street in Hoaks Bluff was excusable (in his defence, there are two, spelled the same....go figure). But today was another story. After he tried to send me home (almost the middle of Boaz) from Sardis by way of Duck Springs, I am beginning to see his true colors. We have decided to take some time apart this weekend. I think it will be good for us, but I predict on Monday, when I am faced with a stack of random addresses I will be begging for his forgiveness.........that's the way love goes, right?

Anyway, thanks for indulging my silliness!

Mel

Settling in

Hey guys!! We made it! The move is over, and most of our belonging are unpacked...I just don't know where they are!! We had so much help moving in, and I am truly greatful to everyone. We were really totally liveable by Sunday-with a fully functioning kitchen (and we arrived at the new house late Friday afternoon). We ran into a few minor plumbing kinks (no water to the fridge hook up, hot/cold switched in the master, leaky sink) but all of that has been worked out. We can't believe how much bigger this house feels! I need more furniture! (:-) We have started on the fence, so that Bear can move out of his pen. Things are falling into place.
Josh has started classes, and I have been on the job a couple of weeks. Things are going great! I couldn't ask for better hours....start at 9 in the a.m. done by 2 or 3!! I can't believe I ever considered not taking this job!
Now our biggest dilemma is whether to put in a pool, or buy a boat? Those of you who know Josh know his vote....Both!! He has been laying boat trader magazines around for a while, so that might be the choice for now, but who knows? Stay tuned!! And thanks again for all of you who helped us! We really appreciate you, more than you will ever know!
Loves!!

Mel

MOVING DAY!

I can't believe it is here!! I am happy, sad, excited, nervous, and stressed all at the same time. We picked up the moving truck (the largest they have) yesterday, and have started putting all "non essential" items in (i.e. I had to beg Josh to leave the bed and fridge off for now, since we aren't leaving for at least another 24 hours!). My inlaws (bless their hearts) are coming down today to help us load everything, and then tomorrow we will make the move. I can't believe I will be spending my last night in this house! I love this house so much! We have had so many memories and so many good times here! I know this is the right thing to do, but it certainly is difficult.
Since Josh will probably pack the computer as soon as I put it down and turn my back, I won't be on for a while!
Keep us in your prayers! And thanks in advance to everyone who has volunteered to help us move, here and in north Alabama. Yall are awesome!

Mel

A loop hole

Ok, so I was flipping out, thinking that I was going to be homeless in a few short days, if this deal in Mobile doesn't close soon (which it appears is NOT going to happen). But, thanks to an awesome idea by my Mom, and our great real estate agent's help, we are going to be able to rent the new house from the sellers until closing! That makes me feel so much better! I did not want to have to move our stuff from this house to a storage unit, only to turn around and move it from the storage unit to our new house in a few days. Looks like we won't be homeless after all! Yea!

Feeling better,

Mel

Delays

Ok, so even though we have an accepted offer on our house here, and they have approval for their loan, apparently there are like 1000 other things that have to fall into place before this can close, and time is getting short! After this deal closes, we still have to close on the house in Boaz, and all of this needs to happen before the 26th, or Josh and I will be homeless!!
On another note, I can not believe how much stuff we have accumulated in the four years we have been here! I don't think there is any way that two people need this much stuff! Every time I think I am getting somewhere with the packing, I find a whole new mess to deal with! I am running out of boxes and patience!!!!

Can you tell I am stressed?

Mel

Houston, I have a job!!

Well, I finally made a decision!!!! I know...it's about time, right? I am taking the home health job. I can't believe I am doing it, but let's just say it was an offer I couldn't turn down! ($$) I am susposed to start work May 26, and Josh's first day of class is that day also. We also have an accepted contract on our house here, which is awesome, since we didn't even list it, ANYWHERE! God is just too awesome for words sometimes!!
Well, I have a lot to do....packing, paperwork....Fun!
More to come as I know.

Mel

Accepted!!

We put an offer in on the house that we love, and after some "haggling" back and forth, we have an accepted offer!! Now, if I could just make a decision on the job...
I think I know what I am going to do, but I really am dreading calling the other company and turning down that position! I wonder if an email or text is an option?

Later!

Mel

Interviews and House Hunting

So, since we have decided we are moving, and Josh is going back to school, we still have a few minor details to work out. We need a house, and I need a job, to pay for said house. We met with a real estate agent (who is great by the way-Rebecca Grave, ReMax of Albertville) who showed us some houses that really weren't what we are looking for, or where we wanted to be, and then one house that we absolutely love!! It is a new construction, in a new subdivision in Boaz, and is is gorgeous!! The only thing that I don't like about it, is that it doesn't have granite counter tops. For those that don't know, just before we decided we were moving, I had some gorgeous granite counter tops installed, and now I have to leave them (I checked..it is some where in the real estate handbook!). Oh well! I also had 2 job interviews this weekend. One was with a nursing home/short term rehab, and it went well. The second was with a home health company, and they offered me the job on the spot (the rehab place called me while I was interviewing with the home health company and offered the job also.) So now I have a decision to make...and those of you who know me know how that goes!! Pro/con lists and sleepless nights, here I come! However, I will say that I know things could be worse...at least I have two really good offers to consider....a few weeks ago, I was wondering if I would ever find a job. God really works things out....

Mel

New Furniture, Art, and New Experiences

We have been talking about buying a cocktail ottoman for a very long time. Last weekend, we decided to take the plunge. We chose an ottoman at Rooms to Go (NEVER buy anything from there), and then paid an additional fee to have it delivered in 2 days (instead of having to wait more than a week and pick it up). The catch was, they couldn't (or wouldn't) tell us what time of day they would be bringing the furniture, so we had to make arrangements for one of us to be here all day long. Josh, being the selfless person he is, volunteered to take the first shift and sleep late, while waiting on the delivery. Lunchtime came, and the delivery had still not arrived, so I left work, and came home to relieve Josh. About an hour after I got home, Josh called me and said that he had gotten a phone call, informing us that our furniture would not be delivered that day after all. As it turns out, the ottoman was out of stock, and wouldn't be available until the next week (1 week after the original promised date). We were FURIOUS! As soon as Josh got home from work, we went back to Rooms to Go, got a refund on the ottoman (rush fee included). Then, we went back on the hunt. After several unsuccessful stops, we hit pay dirt. At J and J Furniture, we found a wonderful deal on a beautiful coffee table, and 2 end tables. Not only did we save more than $100 on what we had paid for the ottoman, we were able to pick up the furniture, fully assembled, the next day! So on Wednesday, when we got home from work, we spent our night arranging and rearranging the furniture in the living room. We are loving our new furniture, and the new arrangement. Then today, we stopped by a Starving Artist Sale, and found an amazing oil painting of 2 elephants, which fits in great with our "safari" themed living room. Of course, after all of this shopping, I have put myself on restriction, at least until next payday!! I will try to post some pictures soon.
On a totally unrelated note, at this time next week, I will have lost my camping virginity. That's right, I have made it almost 27 years without having to sleep on the ground, but all of that is about to change. Josh who is a seasoned camper, has caught the camping bug, and along with some friends of ours, has planned a trip for next weekend. When I had originally agreed to try camping with Josh, he promised me the luxury of a toilet, and that we would go when the temperatures were going to be above 50 degrees F. So, when we go this weekend, we will be a mile walk from running water, and the temperatures are supposed to be in the 40's. We will see....
Mel

Closet secrets

So, as Josh and I were cleaning out closets this morning, we found a little surprise in the top of one of our closets! A BONG!! Apparently, the previous owners of this house indulged in some "recreational activities" we were not aware of! They were toking on the wacky weed, or whatever the kids are calling it now days! Josh actually had to tell me what it was. My first guess as to what it was, was really off, but still equally disturbing. It is really hilarious to us, because these people appeared to be the most conservative, buttoned down people you have ever met. Guess it just goes to show you, you never know what goes on behind closed (closet in this case) doors!

Mel

PS if the cops come a take us to jail for possesion of drug paraphernalia, please show them this blog as proof it wasn't ours!

MOVING ON UP....to north Alabama!

Josh and I have decided the time has come. It is time to say goodbye to Mobile, and move closer to the things and people that matter most. No, we are not pregnant, divorcing, in financial trouble, or running from the law. We are just ready to be closer to our familes. And yes, one day we hope to have children, and when we do, I want them to grow up seeing their grandparents aunts and uncles and little cousins more than a few times a year. So, we have officially begun the process of relocating. We have looked at some houses, and I am looking for jobs in that area. Josh is planning on going back to school to get his Paramedic degree, so I will be supporting him for a change! We are very excited about this decision. The biggest hold up is going to be selling our house, so keep your fingers crossed for us!!

Mel

New Years Resolutions!

This year, I have put a lot of time and thought into my New Years resolutions. Based on my track record of keeping resolutions, and my actual goals for the year, I have set the following resolutions: 1. To gain at least 10#s. 2. To exercise less. 3. To save absolutely no $.

Since I have never kept a New Year's resolution in my life, I am hoping that I will actually end up a more active, slimmer, and slightly more wealthy individual in 2009! I will keep you updated on my progress!

Mel