Exactly 3 years ago today I met Joshua. I had no idea that night I had met my eternal companion and husband.
April 29th, 2005 there was a single's dance at the Poquoson Chapel. The Peninsula Branch was in charge and invited Virginia Beach and Richmond to attend as well. My best friend Christina and I went together to have fun and meet people. I got all dressed up in a nice black skirt and a pink sparkly blouse that I was so excited to wear.
The dance wasn't great but okay. There were about 30 people there, maybe towards 50 at the prime of the night. I was still dealing with health problems so fast dancing wasn't an option at the time. So I greatly anticipated the slow songs, but there were a mere 4 for the entire 3 hours! I only danced with a couple of guys the whole night, one I asked, the other asked me but he was already engaged, simply a good friend of mine. Other than that my ex-boyfriend Miguel was sulking around in the shadows, trying to get me to notice that he was stalking me, but he wouldn't say anything to me so I didn't say anything to him. Christina and I were standing along the wall assessing the crowd when Miguel walked to the wall and sat down on the floor just past Christina. We both saw him and it was clear he was trying to get my attention, but I couldn't bring myself to respond to his immature tactics.
Somewhere around the middle of the dance, I went out into the hall towards the kitchen. I had noticed people hanging out there and wanted to see if I could mingle too. There was this cute guy sitting on the kitchen counter pass through in the hall. He had blonde hair, a thin build, and a handsome (but young looking) face. After standing around a moment he took notice of me and said, "Hi! I'm Joshua." I happily responded, "I'm Sarah." He told me something about how he was new to the singles branch and of course had to drop in the bragging rights of, "I was Sunday School President in the Denbigh Ward, but now I'm here at singles." By this time not only had I noticed how cute he was, but that he was articulate, intelligent, and must be a good Priesthood holder (yes, I was fast at assessing him as potential dating material, you've got to be!). My interest had been piqued. But I was concerned about how young he looked. I seriously thought to myself, either he's a returned missionary and is 21 or he's fresh from the family ward and is 18 or 19 and I don't date guys younger than me. So I asked, "How old are you?" He replied, "23. How old are you?" I was surprised, he looked so young, but I was relieved because this meant he was 3 years older than me and was indeed dating material! I answered, "I'm 20." We talked for a few moments more and left it at a general I'll see you around church. As I walked back into the cultural hall to the dance, I thought, he's cute and I'm interested, but his name is Joshua, the same as my brother. That's just weird, so forget it.
Joshua and I never danced that night and other than that brief encounter in the hall didn't spend time with each other. However, he did ask my best friend Christina to dance. I didn't see it, but apparently he was on the dance floor having fun to a fast song, she was near by, so he asked her to dance with him. As he explained later to me, "I was getting to know everyone that night. I was dancing and pulling people from the crowd out to the dance floor." Well, I didn't hear about this until her and I were in the car.
Christina proceeded to complain about Joshua for a good 20 minutes, HAHA! She told me about how he asked her to dance on a fast song, which was a little odd but okay. Then she said he was weird. I told her that I had met him that night too and thought he was nice. She rebutted, "But he was like really weird. The bad weird." I responded, "But I like weird." She took a moment to look away from the road and glare at me as she said, "You would." It was clear to her that I liked him, but she couldn't stand him. She told me about how they were having a normal conversation where he was telling her about how he works at a bookstore. Then all of a sudden he looked into the distance and said with a scared tone, "No, no... aaarrrggghhh!" And then was right back to the conversation. I admit, I found that weird, really weird too, but I hadn't seen him do it so I brushed it off as her personal interpretation of a joke gone wrong or something. That wasn't enough. She complained about his sweaty hands. I said, "I don't mind sweaty hands. I have sweaty hands." She responded, "No, these were not normal sweaty hands. They were dripping with sweat. It was so gross!" And on she went about how weird and gross he was. It was pretty funny!
Now that I know Joshua, yes, he was really sweaty hands. Like abnormally sweaty. I deal with it. And the weird "out of nowhere" terrified response, he does this thing where he will be in the middle of a conversation and all of a sudden decide to imitate what he is talking about. Even worse is when he starts a conversation like that. The annoying part is he'll do it randomly and sometimes you're not even sure what he is referring to. I know where he gets it from, his family with their inconsistent responses to his behavior has led him to have random communication at times. It's not his fault he is weird.
So what Christina saw was true, but she missed all the good parts about him, which is what I saw out in the hall. She continued to have that bad impression of him for over a year and was in Idaho when Joshua and I got closer and then began dating. It wasn't until she was back for the summer and got a chance to hang out around Joshua did she see why I was interested in him. She had heard me say all these wonderful things about him, but she had a hard time believing me when all she knew was the weird, sweaty guy at the dance, lol!
Anyway, a few weeks later after church Joshua was still hanging around. He was talking with Anne, whom was also a friend of mine so I joined them. Then Joshua and I got talking and discovered we had a common interest, CATS! Once I knew he was a fellow feline lover I didn't care what his name was, I wanted HIM! It's funny to look back now 3 years later and realize that guy who I had such a huge crush on is now my husband.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Personalized Pens
Personalized and custom made items are so much fun! I remember one year for my sister’s birthday I made her blank note cards with a photo of a painting I created on the front and a set of personalized pencils. She’s not the easiest person to buy gifts for, but she did seem to like it, or at least the effort that went into it.
Another use for personalized writing utensils would be advertising pens. I’ve seen all kinds of businesses use this method of promotion. As a customer, I love a free pen and will use it all over the place, which gives the opportunity for people to notice the company being advertised.
Another use for personalized writing utensils would be advertising pens. I’ve seen all kinds of businesses use this method of promotion. As a customer, I love a free pen and will use it all over the place, which gives the opportunity for people to notice the company being advertised.
I saw a LIVE Armadillo!!!
Monday night is our pizza night. As we were driving down West Lake Houston towards our usual parking spot to eat our pizza together, we saw a short, fat, waddling animal with a long skinny tail in the median. At first we thought it was an o'possum but upon closer look we saw the armor and both yelled, "That's an ARMADILLO!!!" Joshua quickly pulled over to the nearest place to park (a bank on the other side of the road), we grabbed the digital camera, ran across the road to the median, and then Joshua tromped through the woods (yeah, we have woods in the middle of the roads around here) flashing the camera attempting to capture the armadillo in photo. The little bugger hid but it was still so cool that we finally saw our first LIVE armadillo! Though he was walking towards the road when we saw him, I sure hope the next time we see him he won't be roadkill :-/
Cleaning
I’ve done a lot of cleaning over the past couple of days. I guess I’ve just been in cleaning mode, plus it needed done anyway. I use basic cheap cleaning tools and products, which I can get away with living in a tiny apartment (I love this apartment despite the lack of space). I’ve noticed here in Texas a lot of the houses have hard floors, whether wood, tile, or something else to combat the heat. I guess someday when we have a house I will need to get a microfiber mop to keep up a clean floor.
Friday, April 25, 2008
The Departure of the Best Neighbor Ever
Joshua and I are both depressed. We had an awesome neighbor across from us but he moved today. His name is Tony and he's the crazy ol' cat man. He's the best! Tony has been a great friend of ours from the beginning. He has looked out for both of us like a fatherly friend but has also treated us with peer to peer adult respect. I think it's been really good for Joshua to experience that type of healthy relationship and I've enjoyed having a friend to chat with during the day.
Some things I've learned from Tony:
1- Don't mouth off to your boss. It will get you fired. Hence, why he got evicted and moved to Austin.
2- Smoking will cost you $4,000 a year. (I wish he would quit.)
3- Being a crazy ol' cat person is simply evidence of being an intelligent and creative individual that embraces independant personalities. Dog people just like a lot of attention.
4- Wanting to plot murder against the upstairs neighbor is not a bad thing. However, calling the cops is more effective. They did stop fighting so loudly.
5- The San Diego Temple is gothic. We have a picture of it in our apartment and he said, "What the h*** is that? It's the most gothic building I've ever seen!" Who knew?
6-Miracles happen.
On Christmas Eve our dishwasher broke right in my hands. I went to start the dishwasher and discovered that it had died. I'd heard Tony complain about how our apartment complex is terrible at getting repairs done in a timely manner, if ever. I also knew we did not have the money to replace it ourselves. I also knew that the extra time and effort to hand wash the dishes would be better spent working and earning money, plus I didn't want the hassle. Then I thought about how upset my husband would be when he found out what happened.
Then Tony walked by the apartment and said hi (I had the door open to let in a breeze, it was in the upper 70's the day before Christmas). He added, "Come see my new fridge!" He was in the process of renivating his apartment to his liking. I walked out the door and took a look through his door and into his apartment and sure enough, his new little fridge was sleek and practical. He went on to tell me what all else he was going to do and noted that he was replacing most of the appliances including the dishwasher. I asked what he was going to do with it and his plans were to simply through it out which was a shame because it was fairly new. I told him how my dishwasher had just broken and if he was going to throw his out if I could have it. He not only said I could have it, but he offered to install it for me with Joshua's help.
By the time my husband came home from work, I told him this whole story and the Christmas miracle that had happened. Then Christmas Day, Tony and Joshua installed the dishwasher. Another thing about the dishwasher, he had gotten it free from work while they were installing appliances for an apartment complex and this one got a scratch on the front. They said it wouldn't do so Tony took it home. Then he found that he didn't use it often and would rather use the space for something else. So he passed on his good fortune to us and even gifted us his plumbing services by installing the dishwasher. It was a blessed Christmas!
7- Divorce is bad.
Tony has been divorced twice. Mostly he finds divorce burdensome because of the financial strains of being on his own plus supporting two children. However, the more I would talk with him the more I could tell that he's lonely and is struggling to make it on his own. As he would tell me, "It really takes two to make it in today's world."
What I just found out yesterday surprised me. He's still in love with his ex-wife (the second wife). I asked him why did they get divorced. He said the pressure of them both trying to establish careers, make ends meet, and then her getting pregnant and becoming a mom which really scared her, got to them. They freaked out and split. Also, they were living with her parents which he says he didn't mind too much, but from my personal experience I know that leads to additional problems that drive a relationship to failure. I told him that I understand those pressures, that we're dealing with a lot of those. We're only making it because of a lot of faith. He responded, "It helps to have that grounding in common. We didn't have that." Meaning our religion helps our marriage, whereas they didn't have that basis. Through it all I've gathered that Tony advises sticking it through because he has suffered the consequences of giving up and it's just not worth it.
8- Good people still exist in this world. Tony is a prime example of that.
One time in particular, there were a couple of guys going door to door "selling magazines." I was home on the computer and could hear them talking to Tony. He answered the door and they talked to him, "We're getting to know the neighbors. Are you friendly?" He gruffly responded, "No." They nervously continued their approach but quickly moved on to another neighbor. I didn't want to talk to them, so when there was a knock at the door I hesitantly checked the peep hole. It was my friend Amanda. I let her in and we hung out. She told me the weird guys talked to her too and she advised I ignore them. Soon enough there was a knock at my door but we just kept talking like we didn't hear it. Another knock. We ignored it, but kept talking. Another knock, and again, and then finally I hear in Tony's concerned voice, "Sarah." I quickly went to the door and opened it and he let out a huge sigh of relief when he saw Amanda. He explained, "Those weird guys were around and I heard talking in your apartment and thought, 'No, girl, don't do that! Don't let them in!' So I knocked to check on you and when I heard the talking still but you didn't answer I was worried. I was about to break down the door! Those guys seemed like they were ready to rob someone. Their story didn't add up." As you can see, Tony would always look out for me. He has a daughter my age and felt his protective fatherly insticts kick in around me. Both Joshua and I felt safer having him as our neighbor.
Another example was when Amanda broke up with her boyfriend. She came to my place crying but I didn't answer the door right away. Tony saw her and talked with her. Then I came out and we all discussed the situation. Apparently her boyfriend had kicked her out and locked her stuff in the apartment. I was grateful to have Tony there. He called the cops, then went with Amanda and the cops to her apartment, helped carry her stuff, then him and I decided Amanda needed to call her dad. Then he waited with us until her dad arrived, then helped put her stuff in the car, told her it'll all be okay, and we sent her off. I was in over my head trying to help her, it was a true blessing to have him step in a take charge.
As you can tell, Tony has looked out for us, helped us, and befriended us through it all. He made our transition to Texas easier. Even letting us borrow his cats regularly! (Which really helped since I missed my cats so badly.) Joshua and I have gained a friend and family member with Tony. We hope to keep in touch. Though, we will miss him as our neighbor :-(
Some things I've learned from Tony:
1- Don't mouth off to your boss. It will get you fired. Hence, why he got evicted and moved to Austin.
2- Smoking will cost you $4,000 a year. (I wish he would quit.)
3- Being a crazy ol' cat person is simply evidence of being an intelligent and creative individual that embraces independant personalities. Dog people just like a lot of attention.
4- Wanting to plot murder against the upstairs neighbor is not a bad thing. However, calling the cops is more effective. They did stop fighting so loudly.
5- The San Diego Temple is gothic. We have a picture of it in our apartment and he said, "What the h*** is that? It's the most gothic building I've ever seen!" Who knew?
6-Miracles happen.
On Christmas Eve our dishwasher broke right in my hands. I went to start the dishwasher and discovered that it had died. I'd heard Tony complain about how our apartment complex is terrible at getting repairs done in a timely manner, if ever. I also knew we did not have the money to replace it ourselves. I also knew that the extra time and effort to hand wash the dishes would be better spent working and earning money, plus I didn't want the hassle. Then I thought about how upset my husband would be when he found out what happened.
Then Tony walked by the apartment and said hi (I had the door open to let in a breeze, it was in the upper 70's the day before Christmas). He added, "Come see my new fridge!" He was in the process of renivating his apartment to his liking. I walked out the door and took a look through his door and into his apartment and sure enough, his new little fridge was sleek and practical. He went on to tell me what all else he was going to do and noted that he was replacing most of the appliances including the dishwasher. I asked what he was going to do with it and his plans were to simply through it out which was a shame because it was fairly new. I told him how my dishwasher had just broken and if he was going to throw his out if I could have it. He not only said I could have it, but he offered to install it for me with Joshua's help.
By the time my husband came home from work, I told him this whole story and the Christmas miracle that had happened. Then Christmas Day, Tony and Joshua installed the dishwasher. Another thing about the dishwasher, he had gotten it free from work while they were installing appliances for an apartment complex and this one got a scratch on the front. They said it wouldn't do so Tony took it home. Then he found that he didn't use it often and would rather use the space for something else. So he passed on his good fortune to us and even gifted us his plumbing services by installing the dishwasher. It was a blessed Christmas!
7- Divorce is bad.
Tony has been divorced twice. Mostly he finds divorce burdensome because of the financial strains of being on his own plus supporting two children. However, the more I would talk with him the more I could tell that he's lonely and is struggling to make it on his own. As he would tell me, "It really takes two to make it in today's world."
What I just found out yesterday surprised me. He's still in love with his ex-wife (the second wife). I asked him why did they get divorced. He said the pressure of them both trying to establish careers, make ends meet, and then her getting pregnant and becoming a mom which really scared her, got to them. They freaked out and split. Also, they were living with her parents which he says he didn't mind too much, but from my personal experience I know that leads to additional problems that drive a relationship to failure. I told him that I understand those pressures, that we're dealing with a lot of those. We're only making it because of a lot of faith. He responded, "It helps to have that grounding in common. We didn't have that." Meaning our religion helps our marriage, whereas they didn't have that basis. Through it all I've gathered that Tony advises sticking it through because he has suffered the consequences of giving up and it's just not worth it.
8- Good people still exist in this world. Tony is a prime example of that.
One time in particular, there were a couple of guys going door to door "selling magazines." I was home on the computer and could hear them talking to Tony. He answered the door and they talked to him, "We're getting to know the neighbors. Are you friendly?" He gruffly responded, "No." They nervously continued their approach but quickly moved on to another neighbor. I didn't want to talk to them, so when there was a knock at the door I hesitantly checked the peep hole. It was my friend Amanda. I let her in and we hung out. She told me the weird guys talked to her too and she advised I ignore them. Soon enough there was a knock at my door but we just kept talking like we didn't hear it. Another knock. We ignored it, but kept talking. Another knock, and again, and then finally I hear in Tony's concerned voice, "Sarah." I quickly went to the door and opened it and he let out a huge sigh of relief when he saw Amanda. He explained, "Those weird guys were around and I heard talking in your apartment and thought, 'No, girl, don't do that! Don't let them in!' So I knocked to check on you and when I heard the talking still but you didn't answer I was worried. I was about to break down the door! Those guys seemed like they were ready to rob someone. Their story didn't add up." As you can see, Tony would always look out for me. He has a daughter my age and felt his protective fatherly insticts kick in around me. Both Joshua and I felt safer having him as our neighbor.
Another example was when Amanda broke up with her boyfriend. She came to my place crying but I didn't answer the door right away. Tony saw her and talked with her. Then I came out and we all discussed the situation. Apparently her boyfriend had kicked her out and locked her stuff in the apartment. I was grateful to have Tony there. He called the cops, then went with Amanda and the cops to her apartment, helped carry her stuff, then him and I decided Amanda needed to call her dad. Then he waited with us until her dad arrived, then helped put her stuff in the car, told her it'll all be okay, and we sent her off. I was in over my head trying to help her, it was a true blessing to have him step in a take charge.
As you can tell, Tony has looked out for us, helped us, and befriended us through it all. He made our transition to Texas easier. Even letting us borrow his cats regularly! (Which really helped since I missed my cats so badly.) Joshua and I have gained a friend and family member with Tony. We hope to keep in touch. Though, we will miss him as our neighbor :-(
Bride's Mind on her Wedding Day - What it's really like
My friend Kathleen wrote the best post about her wedding day. It is the most honest and realistic portrayal of what really is going through a bride's mind on her wedding day and it's tooting hilarious! You'll see what that means ;-)
http://tootinghilarious.blogspot.com/2008/04/day-of-toots.html
http://tootinghilarious.blogspot.com/2008/04/day-of-toots.html
Health Insurance
Medical insurance is a concern of ours. We’ve been looking into our options. Dorie has provided us with the most useful information. I’ve talked with a variety of people about private insurance options, medicare, medigap, local health insurance plans, the whole range. The trouble is we can’t do anything about any of it until I have my Texas license! I’m still waiting for it to arrive in the mail :-/
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Goldilocks and the 3 Computer Chairs
I need better office furniture. As I sit here in my camp chair, straining my wrists since the chair is a little too short for the desk, or perhaps the desk is too tall for the chair, I realize the Goldilocks complex I’m living in. Behind me there is a wooden dining room chair (okay, it’s technically a patio chair, but trust me, if you saw it you’d deem it a dining room chair) with my memory foam pillow on the seat. There are times when I use that chair configuration at my desk, but I find it’s too tall so I curl up my legs against my desk only to later discover my shins are sore. Not to forget that despite the memory foam pillow, my butt still gets sore when I spend hours researching and writing. My other option is a short upholstered chair with a deep seat so I use a large decorative pillow to boost my position upright. That chair is too short putting a lot of pressure on my wrists and the pillow and cushions become too soft over time leaving my back aching.
Let’s review:
-Wood Chair with Memory Foam Pillow - Too hard, Too tall
-Upholstered Chair with Large Decorative Pillow – Too soft, Too short
-Camp Chair – In between but still not right
This Goldilocks is on the hunt for a new computer chair! But it must be free or cheap. We’re keeping an eye out on thrift stores and yard sales. Wish me luck!
Let’s review:
-Wood Chair with Memory Foam Pillow - Too hard, Too tall
-Upholstered Chair with Large Decorative Pillow – Too soft, Too short
-Camp Chair – In between but still not right
This Goldilocks is on the hunt for a new computer chair! But it must be free or cheap. We’re keeping an eye out on thrift stores and yard sales. Wish me luck!
Hot or Not
This is the best "Hot or Not" application I've seen. Be fore-warned, you'll need to get dry wit humor to find this amusing. You might have to skip to the one that specifically says "Hot or Not." I wish I could link directly. But this is close.
http://www.next2friends.com/AskAFriend.aspx
http://www.next2friends.com/AskAFriend.aspx
Royal Caribbean Cruiselines - Vacation Fantasies
I've been fantasizing about vacation ideas lately. I looked up the San Diego Zoo, airline tickets to Salt Lake City, daydreamed about our trip to Niagara Falls and what we'd do next time. Granted we can't afford any of it now, but maybe some day. At least the fantasy lives on!
I've always wondered what a cruise would be like. They look like so much fun and my friend/client Jean went on one with her family and loved it. My sister took a cruise with her girlfriend and they had a blast. This website Royal Caribbean Cruiselines has excellent information on cruises. I'm drooling over the options. They include information about the many departure ports and destinations, showing that cruises are available to more than just the typical islands. Though I love the idea of an island cruise.... yes, daydreaming.
I've always wondered what a cruise would be like. They look like so much fun and my friend/client Jean went on one with her family and loved it. My sister took a cruise with her girlfriend and they had a blast. This website Royal Caribbean Cruiselines has excellent information on cruises. I'm drooling over the options. They include information about the many departure ports and destinations, showing that cruises are available to more than just the typical islands. Though I love the idea of an island cruise.... yes, daydreaming.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Wedding Survey
1.What month & year were you married?
November 2007
2.How did he ask you?
At the temple, surrounded by gerbera daisies, as I read the love letter he wrote me, then he directed me to look towards our furture at the temple, and when I turned around he was on one knee and asked, "Will you marry me?"
3.Where did you honeymoon?
The hotel was in Laurel, MD and we took a quick tour of Washington D.C. for a grand total of a mere 2 days.We always dreamed of having a 2 week honeymoon and it most certainly didn't happen :-( It was WAY too short!
4.Can you still fit in your dress?
Yeah... it was only 5 1/2 months ago.
5.What was the worst gift you got?
Glass apothocary jars from some friends who recently got married. It screamed REGIFT! Haha!
6.What flavor was your wedding cake?
Red Velvet with Vanilla frosting to match our white and burgundy theme
7.Were you a bridezilla?
No, I was a numb bride just trying to barge through the painful process of getting married.
8.What's one thing you would change about your wedding?
Ooo... if I could change anything I would've gotten married in May before the family issues got so bad we ended up with this huge dramatic mess of a wedding. But Joshua was not ready to get married in May so it simply couldn't be.
9.Do you still look at your wedding pics?
Yes, sometimes with admiration, other times with bitter pain. It should've been a completely happy day rather than a pain in the butt. I wish I could do it again knowing everything I know now.
10.What colors did you use?
White and Burgundy
11.Where did you tie the knot?
Washington D.C.Temple
12.Whats one funny thing that happened that day?
I got in trouble in the sealing room. It's the temple so you have to speak softly and be reverent. However, when Brother Jinnette came over to congratulate us him and I got very loud and got the "SSSSHHH" from everyone else.
13.How many showers did you have?
A bridal shower a few days before the wedding and the wedding reception. That was it.
14.Did you cry?
No, I was so detached from my feelings because getting married had turned into a horrible process and I just wanted to get it over with. Now I look back and I wish I had enjoyed the day (as I start to cry thinking about it). HUGE regret. Granted a couple months later we discovered my birth control was making me emotionally as well as physically numb so that had a lot to do with it. I hate birth control pills!
15.Did you give any wedding favors away?
Heart shaped cookie cutters
16.Who caught the flowers and garter?
My Maid of Honor and best friend Christina caught my boquet.
A guy from singles branch Tim McFarlane picked the garter up off of the ground after Ryan, my friend's boyfriend, batted it back at Joshua.
17.Who was your officiant or minister?
Um... I'd have to look at our marriage license. We didn't meet him until the day of the wedding. All that mattered what that he had the authority to marry and seal us before God.
18.How much was your wedding dress, undergarments and all?
If you throw in the undergarments, veil, jewelry, etc. it was around $143, though I didn't wear the fancy sandals on my wedding day because it was too cold, so it would've been $118 if you count my burgundy boots instead.
19.Was there dancing?
Oh YES! We wanted our wedding reception to have lots of dancing! That was FUN!
20.Where was the reception?
At the Poquoson LDS Chapel where we met. We had a HUGE reception with around 100 people. It was amazing to have so many people celebrating our marriage.
21.Would you go back and do it over again?
In a heartbeat as long as I could know everything I know now and do it differently according to what I learned through the process. Basically keep the memory of what DID happen in order to do it all better to make a happier memory.
22.How long did you have to plan your wedding?
About a year. We were only engaged for 3 months but we were talking about getting married since late July 2006. Joshua even bought his tux and my engagement ring in November 2006. I started buying things for the wedding, reception, and our future home starting in September 2006.Though from setting the date to actually getting married was mere 3 weeks!!! It was crazy!
23.What kind of car were you in when you drove away?
My Mom's whale. It was pretty funny. We couldn't afford a rental car for the reception and Joshua's car was in Texas. We did have a Lucerne as we drove to our honeymoon from the temple.That was a very nice car!
24.How many in your wedding party?
3, Christina was my maid of honor and Joshua had 2 best men Robert and Mike. We kept it simple.
25.Did you do anything different in your wedding or reception?
We got married in the temple which is different than civil or other church ceremonies. We were "sealed" in addition to being married which means we made covenants with God and with each other and through our obediance to these covenants our marriage will last beyond this life and for all eternity. Because the ordinance is about making covenants between God and the couple it isn't necessary (or even recommended) to have a lot of people in attendance. That's why we had a small wedding and later a HUGE wedding reception.
26.Did you save the top layer of your cake for your 1 year anniversary?
It's in the freezer. I didn't want to bother with the hassle but Joshua insisted.
27.If so, did you eat it? Was it still good?
We'll find out in 6 and a half months.
28.What was the grand total spent on your wedding?
What all are you counting? If you include airfare, car rentals, hotel expenses, plus the reception then you're looking at around $2,000.
29.Who traveled the farthest to attend your wedding?
Brother and Sister Donley came from Wyoming to Washington D.C. just to be at our sealing :-)
30. Do you regret having anyone in your bridal party?
No! Not at all! That's why we kept it simple. Can't go wrong with your best friends :-)
November 2007
2.How did he ask you?
At the temple, surrounded by gerbera daisies, as I read the love letter he wrote me, then he directed me to look towards our furture at the temple, and when I turned around he was on one knee and asked, "Will you marry me?"
3.Where did you honeymoon?
The hotel was in Laurel, MD and we took a quick tour of Washington D.C. for a grand total of a mere 2 days.We always dreamed of having a 2 week honeymoon and it most certainly didn't happen :-( It was WAY too short!
4.Can you still fit in your dress?
Yeah... it was only 5 1/2 months ago.
5.What was the worst gift you got?
Glass apothocary jars from some friends who recently got married. It screamed REGIFT! Haha!
6.What flavor was your wedding cake?
Red Velvet with Vanilla frosting to match our white and burgundy theme
7.Were you a bridezilla?
No, I was a numb bride just trying to barge through the painful process of getting married.
8.What's one thing you would change about your wedding?
Ooo... if I could change anything I would've gotten married in May before the family issues got so bad we ended up with this huge dramatic mess of a wedding. But Joshua was not ready to get married in May so it simply couldn't be.
9.Do you still look at your wedding pics?
Yes, sometimes with admiration, other times with bitter pain. It should've been a completely happy day rather than a pain in the butt. I wish I could do it again knowing everything I know now.
10.What colors did you use?
White and Burgundy
11.Where did you tie the knot?
Washington D.C.Temple
12.Whats one funny thing that happened that day?
I got in trouble in the sealing room. It's the temple so you have to speak softly and be reverent. However, when Brother Jinnette came over to congratulate us him and I got very loud and got the "SSSSHHH" from everyone else.
13.How many showers did you have?
A bridal shower a few days before the wedding and the wedding reception. That was it.
14.Did you cry?
No, I was so detached from my feelings because getting married had turned into a horrible process and I just wanted to get it over with. Now I look back and I wish I had enjoyed the day (as I start to cry thinking about it). HUGE regret. Granted a couple months later we discovered my birth control was making me emotionally as well as physically numb so that had a lot to do with it. I hate birth control pills!
15.Did you give any wedding favors away?
Heart shaped cookie cutters
16.Who caught the flowers and garter?
My Maid of Honor and best friend Christina caught my boquet.
A guy from singles branch Tim McFarlane picked the garter up off of the ground after Ryan, my friend's boyfriend, batted it back at Joshua.
17.Who was your officiant or minister?
Um... I'd have to look at our marriage license. We didn't meet him until the day of the wedding. All that mattered what that he had the authority to marry and seal us before God.
18.How much was your wedding dress, undergarments and all?
If you throw in the undergarments, veil, jewelry, etc. it was around $143, though I didn't wear the fancy sandals on my wedding day because it was too cold, so it would've been $118 if you count my burgundy boots instead.
19.Was there dancing?
Oh YES! We wanted our wedding reception to have lots of dancing! That was FUN!
20.Where was the reception?
At the Poquoson LDS Chapel where we met. We had a HUGE reception with around 100 people. It was amazing to have so many people celebrating our marriage.
21.Would you go back and do it over again?
In a heartbeat as long as I could know everything I know now and do it differently according to what I learned through the process. Basically keep the memory of what DID happen in order to do it all better to make a happier memory.
22.How long did you have to plan your wedding?
About a year. We were only engaged for 3 months but we were talking about getting married since late July 2006. Joshua even bought his tux and my engagement ring in November 2006. I started buying things for the wedding, reception, and our future home starting in September 2006.Though from setting the date to actually getting married was mere 3 weeks!!! It was crazy!
23.What kind of car were you in when you drove away?
My Mom's whale. It was pretty funny. We couldn't afford a rental car for the reception and Joshua's car was in Texas. We did have a Lucerne as we drove to our honeymoon from the temple.That was a very nice car!
24.How many in your wedding party?
3, Christina was my maid of honor and Joshua had 2 best men Robert and Mike. We kept it simple.
25.Did you do anything different in your wedding or reception?
We got married in the temple which is different than civil or other church ceremonies. We were "sealed" in addition to being married which means we made covenants with God and with each other and through our obediance to these covenants our marriage will last beyond this life and for all eternity. Because the ordinance is about making covenants between God and the couple it isn't necessary (or even recommended) to have a lot of people in attendance. That's why we had a small wedding and later a HUGE wedding reception.
26.Did you save the top layer of your cake for your 1 year anniversary?
It's in the freezer. I didn't want to bother with the hassle but Joshua insisted.
27.If so, did you eat it? Was it still good?
We'll find out in 6 and a half months.
28.What was the grand total spent on your wedding?
What all are you counting? If you include airfare, car rentals, hotel expenses, plus the reception then you're looking at around $2,000.
29.Who traveled the farthest to attend your wedding?
Brother and Sister Donley came from Wyoming to Washington D.C. just to be at our sealing :-)
30. Do you regret having anyone in your bridal party?
No! Not at all! That's why we kept it simple. Can't go wrong with your best friends :-)
Getting my new Driver's License
I'm legally a Texan now. On Monday, Joshua and I went to the DPS and got me registered for my new license. I have to wait a few weeks for it to arrive in the mail, but it is on its way!
When I got my license in Virginia it was simple. I needed little paper work and got my license the same day.
It's different in Texas. Being on the border of Mexico they take extra measures to make sure you are legally a US citizen.
My husband and I showed up at the DPS, waited in line, and got a form to fill out. Then waited an hour for my turn (good thing my husband was with me to keep me entertained!). Then we waited in another line. Once it was finally my turn I presented
-my old driver's license,
-my new social security card,
-my marriage license, and
-my completed form.
She inputed the information into the computer system. Then I had to sign the form in front of her. Then I had to do something I've never done, I had to raise my right hand and testify that the information I provided was all accurate. Next she had me do the eye sight test. Then my thumb prints were scanned into the system. Afterwards, I signed the electronic board for my license signiture. I got my photo taken right there in line (the blue background was in place) and signed my temporary license (the paper that counts as a license while my official license is on its way) and she said, "You are now legally a Texan."
And this all took 2 hours because our DPS services 2 HUGE counties. Anyway, we were right next to the court house so we stopped by a filled out voter registration forms so we'll be legal to vote in the next election. We were in the area and it needed done.
So now my license is in my married name AND my voter registration is as well. Plus I'm all updated on my address so I'm now officially a Texan in addition to being a Mrs.
When I got my license in Virginia it was simple. I needed little paper work and got my license the same day.
It's different in Texas. Being on the border of Mexico they take extra measures to make sure you are legally a US citizen.
My husband and I showed up at the DPS, waited in line, and got a form to fill out. Then waited an hour for my turn (good thing my husband was with me to keep me entertained!). Then we waited in another line. Once it was finally my turn I presented
-my old driver's license,
-my new social security card,
-my marriage license, and
-my completed form.
She inputed the information into the computer system. Then I had to sign the form in front of her. Then I had to do something I've never done, I had to raise my right hand and testify that the information I provided was all accurate. Next she had me do the eye sight test. Then my thumb prints were scanned into the system. Afterwards, I signed the electronic board for my license signiture. I got my photo taken right there in line (the blue background was in place) and signed my temporary license (the paper that counts as a license while my official license is on its way) and she said, "You are now legally a Texan."
And this all took 2 hours because our DPS services 2 HUGE counties. Anyway, we were right next to the court house so we stopped by a filled out voter registration forms so we'll be legal to vote in the next election. We were in the area and it needed done.
So now my license is in my married name AND my voter registration is as well. Plus I'm all updated on my address so I'm now officially a Texan in addition to being a Mrs.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Reminder: Get $25 Free for Joining Revolution Money Exchange
It's like a Paypal account and they'll give you $25 just for signing up. I got my $25 the other day (so did my husband when I got him to sign up), even transfered it to my regular checking account (optional, but I wanted the cash right away). It took only a few minutes to sign up. Talk about easy! They do ask for you social security number and contact information because they are a real financial institution which are by law required to collect such information.
Thanks!
~Sarah
Friday, April 18, 2008
Monday Night was Date Night!
Monday night was date night! The previous week Joshua wanted us to go on a date but both of us were just too busy working, so he suggested we go out to a movie together on Monday. That way we could have a date like those we had when we were just boyfriend and girlfriend.
Monday morning, Joshua went to work while I stayed home and got some household chores and a little online work done. Before he left he suggested we catch a movie before 6pm so it’d be cheaper. He told me to expect him home by 4pm and to be ready.
It was so much fun anticipating his arrival for our date like I used to. I kept an eye on the clock as I did the dishes and as the time to get ready approached then I through the closet choosing an outfit. I decided on a lovely blue skirt and top, white dress sandals, and a pair of sparkly dangly earrings. Then I put on some makeup and made sure I was looking good for my man! I sat at my computer looking at the movie options when my husband called. He was on his way home. We chatted over our movie options and chose “Horton Hears a Who.” We were still on the phone when Joshua came to the door but I unlocked it, opened it, and kissed him before he had a chance to even get his key in place. Then he noticed how nice I looked and complimented me. He was glad to see that I was taking this date as seriously as I did before we were married. He was already dressed up from work, even wearing a red satin tie.
Our movie started at 5:15 and we needed to stop by the bank for us to both deposit checks (yay for money!). We had discussed buying candy for the movie, so we dashed into the nearby grocery store, loaded up on the sale candy bars (there’s always a special of some kind, we got lucky and it was on M&M’s and other goodies), plus some beef jerky because my husband was hungry for more than just sugar. When we returned to the car I loaded up my purse with candy in addition to the two water bottles I had already packed in preparation to avoid over priced theater refreshments.
We arrived to the mall with good time, got our tickets at $7 each instead of the usual $9 thanks to choosing a matinee movie time, and took our seats in the back of the theater in time for the previews to start. When you’re working all the time and are broke so there’s no cable, not only do you want to see the movie but the previews too. It’s entertainment. Granted, yes we could watch movie trailers online, but it’s more fun to be in a theater doing so.
We noticed we were the only people in the theater. Fortunately it stayed that way ;-) We pigged out on candy and enjoyed the movie, which was much better than we expected. I’d highly recommend it. After the other Dr. Seuss movies turning out to be a let down, Horton Hears a Who was surprisingly well made with impressive animation and entertaining script.
While the credits were rolling my husband and I of course were making out. You leave us alone in a theater together and it’s inevitable, even with us being married now. We were really having fun when we noticed the lights illuminate and the subtle sound of a step or two. We took a look down the theater and noticed two ushers with huge smiles on their faces. Quickly they went back around the corner away from us. Yeah, we had been caught, and gave them quite a fun show, but they were nice enough to give us our space to regain composure. We took the hint, gathered our things, and exited the theater. The ushers smiled at us as we walked by, haha! Just like old times :-D
We were in the mall so we stopped by the candy store, a Texas gift shop to see if they still have the real but dead armadillo (they don’t), and I couldn’t resist the prom dresses at the Sears entrance. Joshua walked with me and then I discovered clearance racks. That was it. With prices like that I had to do some shopping, especially since I needed longer shirts to keep my garments covered. At first Joshua waited patiently, but making a wise move on his part decided to sojourn to Barnes and Noble and leave me to my bargain hunting. I bought 7 new shirts for a whopping total of $18.88. Yeah, I’m good!
I found my husband in Barnes and Noble and he was indeed proud of my amazing bargain hunting skills. We exited the mall and made our way to the car. Then we drove to Papa John’s and used our latest $5.99 Monday coupon to get a large pizza. We took the pizza to a favorite spot, parked, and enjoyed dinner together. We kept talking about how much fun it’s been to go on a date just like old times. To have a movie theater to ourselves, get caught making out, flirt with each other non-stop, and even fill up on candy like a couple of crazy kids, which is what we used to do all of the time. However, as much fun as we were having on our date we couldn’t help but discuss how we’re married now so it’s even better because the date doesn’t end at the door with a goodnight kiss, hee, hee ;-)
Yes, we will definitely have to go on a date like that again soon!
Monday morning, Joshua went to work while I stayed home and got some household chores and a little online work done. Before he left he suggested we catch a movie before 6pm so it’d be cheaper. He told me to expect him home by 4pm and to be ready.
It was so much fun anticipating his arrival for our date like I used to. I kept an eye on the clock as I did the dishes and as the time to get ready approached then I through the closet choosing an outfit. I decided on a lovely blue skirt and top, white dress sandals, and a pair of sparkly dangly earrings. Then I put on some makeup and made sure I was looking good for my man! I sat at my computer looking at the movie options when my husband called. He was on his way home. We chatted over our movie options and chose “Horton Hears a Who.” We were still on the phone when Joshua came to the door but I unlocked it, opened it, and kissed him before he had a chance to even get his key in place. Then he noticed how nice I looked and complimented me. He was glad to see that I was taking this date as seriously as I did before we were married. He was already dressed up from work, even wearing a red satin tie.
Our movie started at 5:15 and we needed to stop by the bank for us to both deposit checks (yay for money!). We had discussed buying candy for the movie, so we dashed into the nearby grocery store, loaded up on the sale candy bars (there’s always a special of some kind, we got lucky and it was on M&M’s and other goodies), plus some beef jerky because my husband was hungry for more than just sugar. When we returned to the car I loaded up my purse with candy in addition to the two water bottles I had already packed in preparation to avoid over priced theater refreshments.
We arrived to the mall with good time, got our tickets at $7 each instead of the usual $9 thanks to choosing a matinee movie time, and took our seats in the back of the theater in time for the previews to start. When you’re working all the time and are broke so there’s no cable, not only do you want to see the movie but the previews too. It’s entertainment. Granted, yes we could watch movie trailers online, but it’s more fun to be in a theater doing so.
We noticed we were the only people in the theater. Fortunately it stayed that way ;-) We pigged out on candy and enjoyed the movie, which was much better than we expected. I’d highly recommend it. After the other Dr. Seuss movies turning out to be a let down, Horton Hears a Who was surprisingly well made with impressive animation and entertaining script.
While the credits were rolling my husband and I of course were making out. You leave us alone in a theater together and it’s inevitable, even with us being married now. We were really having fun when we noticed the lights illuminate and the subtle sound of a step or two. We took a look down the theater and noticed two ushers with huge smiles on their faces. Quickly they went back around the corner away from us. Yeah, we had been caught, and gave them quite a fun show, but they were nice enough to give us our space to regain composure. We took the hint, gathered our things, and exited the theater. The ushers smiled at us as we walked by, haha! Just like old times :-D
We were in the mall so we stopped by the candy store, a Texas gift shop to see if they still have the real but dead armadillo (they don’t), and I couldn’t resist the prom dresses at the Sears entrance. Joshua walked with me and then I discovered clearance racks. That was it. With prices like that I had to do some shopping, especially since I needed longer shirts to keep my garments covered. At first Joshua waited patiently, but making a wise move on his part decided to sojourn to Barnes and Noble and leave me to my bargain hunting. I bought 7 new shirts for a whopping total of $18.88. Yeah, I’m good!
I found my husband in Barnes and Noble and he was indeed proud of my amazing bargain hunting skills. We exited the mall and made our way to the car. Then we drove to Papa John’s and used our latest $5.99 Monday coupon to get a large pizza. We took the pizza to a favorite spot, parked, and enjoyed dinner together. We kept talking about how much fun it’s been to go on a date just like old times. To have a movie theater to ourselves, get caught making out, flirt with each other non-stop, and even fill up on candy like a couple of crazy kids, which is what we used to do all of the time. However, as much fun as we were having on our date we couldn’t help but discuss how we’re married now so it’s even better because the date doesn’t end at the door with a goodnight kiss, hee, hee ;-)
Yes, we will definitely have to go on a date like that again soon!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
My Husband Just Rescued Me from a 4 Foot Snake!
My husband and I were sitting in the living room on our computers when I realized it was nearly 5pm. I needed to go to the apartment office to put more money on my laundry card and they close at 5. I asked if he'd like to go with me and he gladly joined me for a short a walk. As we were traversing the parking lot, I told him about how earlier I went to get the mail and stopped by the pond to watch the turtles. He said he'd like to see the turtles too, so after I loaded my laundry card, we made our way to the pond.
We toured around the pond and spotted a few turtles swimming. Then we walked out to the woods and did a little exploring, just because. After a few minutes we decided to venture back to our apartment. As we walked along the gravel path talking, all of a sudden Joshua yelled, "LOOK OUT!!!" and grabbed me by the waist pulling me to the other side of the path. I screamed from being startled, but glanced back and realized why he pulled me out of the way. There was a huge, dark, 4 foot snake that I was just about to step on! We ran to the picnic table nearby and quickly climbed on top.
So what happened, Joshua had been looking around at the trees and looked over in time to see that I was about to step on a snake, which I hadn't noticed because I was looking in his direction as he talked. I saw a little something out of the corner of my eye and assumed it was a twig. What I didn't observe was the long dark creature attached to this "twig" lurking in the shadows. Joshua miraculously changed his gaze to the ground in time to witness the scary snake I was about to step on. In just a few seconds Joshua grabbed me and pulled me to the other side of him getting me out of harm's way while putting himself out front to protect me, but just as quickly we fled the reach of the snake and retreating to the picnic table.
My husband is now my hero :-)
We toured around the pond and spotted a few turtles swimming. Then we walked out to the woods and did a little exploring, just because. After a few minutes we decided to venture back to our apartment. As we walked along the gravel path talking, all of a sudden Joshua yelled, "LOOK OUT!!!" and grabbed me by the waist pulling me to the other side of the path. I screamed from being startled, but glanced back and realized why he pulled me out of the way. There was a huge, dark, 4 foot snake that I was just about to step on! We ran to the picnic table nearby and quickly climbed on top.
So what happened, Joshua had been looking around at the trees and looked over in time to see that I was about to step on a snake, which I hadn't noticed because I was looking in his direction as he talked. I saw a little something out of the corner of my eye and assumed it was a twig. What I didn't observe was the long dark creature attached to this "twig" lurking in the shadows. Joshua miraculously changed his gaze to the ground in time to witness the scary snake I was about to step on. In just a few seconds Joshua grabbed me and pulled me to the other side of him getting me out of harm's way while putting himself out front to protect me, but just as quickly we fled the reach of the snake and retreating to the picnic table.
My husband is now my hero :-)
Monday, April 14, 2008
I don't care if the carrots rot in hell...
Joshua left some carrots and broccoli in the strainer in the fridge for a few days. I told him that I threw them out because they went bad, they have to be sealed to stay good. He said, "Sealed? Like sealed in the temple?" So then I joked back, "Yes, they weren't sealed and now they will rot in hell." He bust up laughing. Then he joked, "You should make that you're facebook status 'Sarah doesn't care if the carrots rot in hell."
Hahaha.... Mormon humor ;-)
Hahaha.... Mormon humor ;-)
Saturday, April 12, 2008
P.S. I hate Wikipedia
Yeah, I hate Wikipedia because guess what, it is NOT considered a valid source for information because anyone can write whatever they want. It's great that they cover any topic imaginable, but it sucks that none of it is verified. What we thought was the "Information Age" is actually the "Age of Lies."
At least I'm writing credible pieces, making my meager attempts to combat the fallacious fluff permeating the web. I do believe the "blogshpere" is about to be burst as the usefulness of the internet is deteriorating. Blogs will still exist but there needs to be a seperation between personal opinion websites and credible information sources.
At least I'm writing credible pieces, making my meager attempts to combat the fallacious fluff permeating the web. I do believe the "blogshpere" is about to be burst as the usefulness of the internet is deteriorating. Blogs will still exist but there needs to be a seperation between personal opinion websites and credible information sources.
Internet Woes
I have been a research writer for 5 years and let me tell you, the internet is now full of crap! Really! It used to be so easy to google a keyword and find useful information. Now that everyone and their cat has a blog there's so much crap to sift through! Yes, that's a bit hypoctritical of me considering I am writing this in my own blog, but couldn't someone invent a search engine that specifically avoids blogs and website comments? I would love that for research. If I wanted opinions I could just use google, but when I want facts I need something better. Researching online is NOT what it used to be. It's taking me drastically longer to complete my research for my assignments than it did 5 years ago. What is to be done? I've got to find some way to filter out all the useless junk when I'm conducting research.
Friday, April 11, 2008
I Couldn't Resist Question 2
Do you have a best friend that knows you inside and out?
Two of them!
Have you ever kissed someone whose name started with a J?
Every single day now!!! I'm married to Joshua :-)
What color are the walls in your room?
White, it's an apartment, what do you expect?
Are you falling for anyone?
Not only have I fallen, I'm committed for all eternity :-)
Can you cook harder things then spaghetti, pancakes, and macaroni and cheese?
But I like cooking those things...
What is your favorite game system?
I'm not into video games and fortunately niether is my husband.
Are you guilty of having a one-night stand but NOT feeling bad about it the next day?
That's the good thing about abstinence before marriage, you never face these kind of issues.
Have you ever dated someone longer than a month?
Yeah... I ended up marrying him :-)
If you could be anywhere right now where would it be?
With my husband on vacation somewhere away from everyone and everything just enjoying each other... it sucks that our honeymoon was only 2 days long!!!
You're with a group of people and a couple of them start laughing about?
It's usually Joshua and I that start the laughter... haha.
Do you tend to think logically or listen to your heart?
I do both... but the majority of the past couple of years has been with my heart. Had I not held true to my faith in God and followed what I knew in my heart and listened to logic instead, I wouldn't have married my wonderful husband which would've been the biggest mistake ever. Trust me, all of that drama there were many times I couldn't take it anymore, but everytime I'd pray I just got reassured that he's the one I'm meant to marry and I need to stick it out. It's been rough, still rough at times, but I love him more than anything and I'm blessed to have him.
Have you ever told someone you were single when you really weren't?
Oh, no. I'm really good at the "my boyfriend this," "My fiance that", and now "My husband is..." the whole way through. My husband is good at it too. The other day he was subbing at an Elementary School where he was the only male teacher there that day and the female janitor advised him to apply for a job there because "this school has plenty of young, single..." and before she could even finished he raised his left hand and waved it while saying, "I'm off the market! I'm a married man!" With my husband being a female predominant profession, it's always good to hear he's making it perfectly clear that he is MARRIED!
Two of them!
Have you ever kissed someone whose name started with a J?
Every single day now!!! I'm married to Joshua :-)
What color are the walls in your room?
White, it's an apartment, what do you expect?
Are you falling for anyone?
Not only have I fallen, I'm committed for all eternity :-)
Can you cook harder things then spaghetti, pancakes, and macaroni and cheese?
But I like cooking those things...
What is your favorite game system?
I'm not into video games and fortunately niether is my husband.
Are you guilty of having a one-night stand but NOT feeling bad about it the next day?
That's the good thing about abstinence before marriage, you never face these kind of issues.
Have you ever dated someone longer than a month?
Yeah... I ended up marrying him :-)
If you could be anywhere right now where would it be?
With my husband on vacation somewhere away from everyone and everything just enjoying each other... it sucks that our honeymoon was only 2 days long!!!
You're with a group of people and a couple of them start laughing about?
It's usually Joshua and I that start the laughter... haha.
Do you tend to think logically or listen to your heart?
I do both... but the majority of the past couple of years has been with my heart. Had I not held true to my faith in God and followed what I knew in my heart and listened to logic instead, I wouldn't have married my wonderful husband which would've been the biggest mistake ever. Trust me, all of that drama there were many times I couldn't take it anymore, but everytime I'd pray I just got reassured that he's the one I'm meant to marry and I need to stick it out. It's been rough, still rough at times, but I love him more than anything and I'm blessed to have him.
Have you ever told someone you were single when you really weren't?
Oh, no. I'm really good at the "my boyfriend this," "My fiance that", and now "My husband is..." the whole way through. My husband is good at it too. The other day he was subbing at an Elementary School where he was the only male teacher there that day and the female janitor advised him to apply for a job there because "this school has plenty of young, single..." and before she could even finished he raised his left hand and waved it while saying, "I'm off the market! I'm a married man!" With my husband being a female predominant profession, it's always good to hear he's making it perfectly clear that he is MARRIED!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
2 Answers to Each Question
Two parts of your heritage:
1) English
2) Danish
Two things that scare you:
1) Pain
2) Pregnancy, lol
Two of your everyday essentials:
1) Husband
2) Food
Two things you are wearing right now:
1) My wedding band
2) My engagement ring (yes, I'm wearing clothes too)
Two of your favorite bands or music (at this moment):
1) Hanson
2) Vince Guaraldi Trio
Two things you want in a relationship (besides real love):
1) Honesty
2) Loyalty
Two people who can make you laugh:
1) My husband Joshua
2) Tricia
Two truths:
1) Marriage gets better with time.
2) Everything costs more than you expect it to.
Two things in life that's once gone, never come back:
1) Time
2) Your Youth
Two things in life that can destroy a person:
1) Lies...eventually they will catch up with you.
2) Porn
Two of your favorite hobbies:
1) Gardening
2) Guitar
Two things that you want really badly:
1) My husband ;-)
2) To be debt free
Two places you want to go on vacation:
1) Niagara Falls
2) San Deigo
Two things you want to do before you die:
1) I've already accomplished my previous 2 being get married in the temple and lose my virginity to my husband... so I guess now it'd be...
1-read all of the scriptures
2-have kids... someday
Two pets you have (or have had):
1) I have 18 cats back in VA but here I "borrow" Kusku and...
2) Looney (also known as Buttercup, Chibell, and Betterbell)
Two favorite sports:
1) Dancing
2) Badminton
Two shows you love:
1) Project Runway
2) Suze Orman
Two things you did last night:
1) Visited my husband at Chick Fila with my friend Dorie and her two darling little boys
2) Worked on my research tutorial
1) English
2) Danish
Two things that scare you:
1) Pain
2) Pregnancy, lol
Two of your everyday essentials:
1) Husband
2) Food
Two things you are wearing right now:
1) My wedding band
2) My engagement ring (yes, I'm wearing clothes too)
Two of your favorite bands or music (at this moment):
1) Hanson
2) Vince Guaraldi Trio
Two things you want in a relationship (besides real love):
1) Honesty
2) Loyalty
Two people who can make you laugh:
1) My husband Joshua
2) Tricia
Two truths:
1) Marriage gets better with time.
2) Everything costs more than you expect it to.
Two things in life that's once gone, never come back:
1) Time
2) Your Youth
Two things in life that can destroy a person:
1) Lies...eventually they will catch up with you.
2) Porn
Two of your favorite hobbies:
1) Gardening
2) Guitar
Two things that you want really badly:
1) My husband ;-)
2) To be debt free
Two places you want to go on vacation:
1) Niagara Falls
2) San Deigo
Two things you want to do before you die:
1) I've already accomplished my previous 2 being get married in the temple and lose my virginity to my husband... so I guess now it'd be...
1-read all of the scriptures
2-have kids... someday
Two pets you have (or have had):
1) I have 18 cats back in VA but here I "borrow" Kusku and...
2) Looney (also known as Buttercup, Chibell, and Betterbell)
Two favorite sports:
1) Dancing
2) Badminton
Two shows you love:
1) Project Runway
2) Suze Orman
Two things you did last night:
1) Visited my husband at Chick Fila with my friend Dorie and her two darling little boys
2) Worked on my research tutorial
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Celebrating Our 5 Month Anniversary
Surviving 5 months of marriage is indeed a big deal. We've gotten past our
dramatic wedding, at least mostly, we're making progress with the in-law issues ...meaning we're establishing our life here in Texas seperate from them... 1400 miles is nice, we're done fighting over closet space and who does what chores (the normal living together adjustments), and my husband is maturing and growing into the man he's meant to be while I'm back to feeling and done with being numb in the face of all the drama. What started out a marriage on the rocks (who else starts that way?) has now turned into a happily married state of ... well, not bliss... but a happy reality.
We began our 5 month anniversary with Joshua going to work (he's a substitute teacher) and me at home working on my new writing job (writing for IQrious.com) and working on my church calling as food storage specialist (not so fun, let me tell you!). I was frustrated with my work and needing a break so I turned to my container garden. We had recently purchased new containers and potting soil since my plants have gone crazy and it's time to expand. I repotted the tomatoes and planted my new blueberry plants while I waited for my husband to come home. When he arrived the first thing we did (other than hug and kiss each other) was gathering some plastic bags, a couple of small shovels, and we embarked on our adventure to steal... um... I mean "collect" dirt. We bought large containers to move the baby watermelons and the cucumbers into, but looking at how deep they were it made sense to fill the bottom with miscellaneous "free" dirt then fill the remaining 3/4 with potting soil (broke newlyweds for ya). So that's what we did, we walked along a side road until we found a muddy spot and began filling a few grocery bags with dirt. We had a blast! My husband had fun discovering new bugs here in Texas, digging in the mud is simply fun as it is, and we got to enjoy the blooming honeysuckle, as well as my husband picking a pretty purple flower for me which he put in my hair :-)
Truth is, no one cared that we were walking around with bags of dirt. We returned home and together prepared the containers for my plants. While I transplanted my young vegetation, Joshua decided to clean out his car in preparation for our date. Did I forget to mention that for the first time in a long time he offically asked me out on a date like he would do when we were first dating? It was sweet :-)
We had a coupon for a $5.99 pizza at Papa Johns. We drove the mere mile and ordered our pizza. Then we ventured over to Walgreens to buy generic sodas. Since we had a few minutes to wait until our pizza would be ready, we decided to stop by the candy isle. For some reason, kissing in the candy isle is still as fun as it was when we were just boyfriend and girlfriend ;-) It's good to be romantic.
We picked up our pizza and began to walk over to our favorite bench in the Town Center shopping area. We love to sit out in the dark, after normal business hours, under the trees, in this lovely shopping area to eat together and enjoy each other's company. As we arrived at our bench I was just about to turn around and sit, when to my horror I realized those spots on the bench were not weather related, they moved! As our eyes had adjusted to the darker setting we beheld the dozens of caterpillars crawling all over the bench. And these weren't just any caterpillars, they were asps which are venomous! It was like a scene from a bad scary movie! We walked over to another bench only to find it too was covered in these menacing insects. We realized they were coming from the trees and were taking over the Town Center. We quickly decided we wanted nothing to do with these dangerous pests and walked back to the car. The whole walk back we were disturbed by how we kept finding these asps on the sides of buildings, on trees, on signs, everywhere! We made it back to the car and decided to finish off our date by driving over to another shopping center along Lake Houston that is barren on Monday nights. We happily stayed in the car safe from the dangers lurking outside.
Overall, we spent our 5 month anniversary digging dirt and being chased off by caterpillers. Yep, sounds like a typical date for us, haha ;-)
dramatic wedding, at least mostly, we're making progress with the in-law issues ...meaning we're establishing our life here in Texas seperate from them... 1400 miles is nice, we're done fighting over closet space and who does what chores (the normal living together adjustments), and my husband is maturing and growing into the man he's meant to be while I'm back to feeling and done with being numb in the face of all the drama. What started out a marriage on the rocks (who else starts that way?) has now turned into a happily married state of ... well, not bliss... but a happy reality.
We began our 5 month anniversary with Joshua going to work (he's a substitute teacher) and me at home working on my new writing job (writing for IQrious.com) and working on my church calling as food storage specialist (not so fun, let me tell you!). I was frustrated with my work and needing a break so I turned to my container garden. We had recently purchased new containers and potting soil since my plants have gone crazy and it's time to expand. I repotted the tomatoes and planted my new blueberry plants while I waited for my husband to come home. When he arrived the first thing we did (other than hug and kiss each other) was gathering some plastic bags, a couple of small shovels, and we embarked on our adventure to steal... um... I mean "collect" dirt. We bought large containers to move the baby watermelons and the cucumbers into, but looking at how deep they were it made sense to fill the bottom with miscellaneous "free" dirt then fill the remaining 3/4 with potting soil (broke newlyweds for ya). So that's what we did, we walked along a side road until we found a muddy spot and began filling a few grocery bags with dirt. We had a blast! My husband had fun discovering new bugs here in Texas, digging in the mud is simply fun as it is, and we got to enjoy the blooming honeysuckle, as well as my husband picking a pretty purple flower for me which he put in my hair :-)
Truth is, no one cared that we were walking around with bags of dirt. We returned home and together prepared the containers for my plants. While I transplanted my young vegetation, Joshua decided to clean out his car in preparation for our date. Did I forget to mention that for the first time in a long time he offically asked me out on a date like he would do when we were first dating? It was sweet :-)
We had a coupon for a $5.99 pizza at Papa Johns. We drove the mere mile and ordered our pizza. Then we ventured over to Walgreens to buy generic sodas. Since we had a few minutes to wait until our pizza would be ready, we decided to stop by the candy isle. For some reason, kissing in the candy isle is still as fun as it was when we were just boyfriend and girlfriend ;-) It's good to be romantic.
We picked up our pizza and began to walk over to our favorite bench in the Town Center shopping area. We love to sit out in the dark, after normal business hours, under the trees, in this lovely shopping area to eat together and enjoy each other's company. As we arrived at our bench I was just about to turn around and sit, when to my horror I realized those spots on the bench were not weather related, they moved! As our eyes had adjusted to the darker setting we beheld the dozens of caterpillars crawling all over the bench. And these weren't just any caterpillars, they were asps which are venomous! It was like a scene from a bad scary movie! We walked over to another bench only to find it too was covered in these menacing insects. We realized they were coming from the trees and were taking over the Town Center. We quickly decided we wanted nothing to do with these dangerous pests and walked back to the car. The whole walk back we were disturbed by how we kept finding these asps on the sides of buildings, on trees, on signs, everywhere! We made it back to the car and decided to finish off our date by driving over to another shopping center along Lake Houston that is barren on Monday nights. We happily stayed in the car safe from the dangers lurking outside.
Overall, we spent our 5 month anniversary digging dirt and being chased off by caterpillers. Yep, sounds like a typical date for us, haha ;-)
Monday, April 07, 2008
I'm Getting Paid to Blog!!!
My blog was just approved! Now I can start making money as a blogger! You’ve seen the ads I personally placed in my links, and now I’m fully getting starting with this opportunity. But I’m being nice and telling you all about this so you can join too (well, that and there’s a referral reward of $15 if I send anyone over and their blog gets approved). But you really should join the blog network
because once your blog is approved they will pay you $20 for your first post!
Now let me explain how this works. Companies will pay you to write about their website, product, or service in your blog in hopes that they will get more traffic and sales. Considering most of us blog about products and things we like anyway, it’s really not that different except you get PAID to do it. Plus YOU get to choose which opportunities you want to take. So that way you get paid to write about things that actually interest you. It’s a great way to make some money on the side. You can do it whenever you want, just log in, pick an opportunity, then write about it. It’s completely flexible!
Now let me explain how this works. Companies will pay you to write about their website, product, or service in your blog in hopes that they will get more traffic and sales. Considering most of us blog about products and things we like anyway, it’s really not that different except you get PAID to do it. Plus YOU get to choose which opportunities you want to take. So that way you get paid to write about things that actually interest you. It’s a great way to make some money on the side. You can do it whenever you want, just log in, pick an opportunity, then write about it. It’s completely flexible!
Kids then marriage or marriage then kids? (Who asks that?)
Are you afraid of falling in love?
Apparently not.
If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?
Oy... let's just say I'm moving forward.
Do you like coffee?
I don't even like the smell. Plus I'm Mormon, we don't drink coffee.
How old might you be?
Might I be? I look about 16-18 even though I'm 23... so might I be is up for debate.
Do you still talk to the person you fell hardest for?
Uh, yeah... I'm married to him.
How do you handle stress?
I tend to hide from the world and eat chocolate.
Kids then marriage or marriage then kids?
Who in their right mind would answer kids then marriage?! Most people who have children out of wedlock didn't intend to do so. That's why I believe in abstinence before marriage because it's 100% guaranteed to prevent children before marriage.
Are you smart?
I'm a research writer.What do you think?
Do you collect loose change?
Oh, yes! In fact my husband and I make a game out of finding coins when we're out and about.
Do you go to church?
Every Sunday
Do you do anything crafty?
Jewelry, sewing / mending projects, etc.
Do you donate anything?
Tithing... and sometimes junk to the thrift store
What kind of pain reliever do you take for headaches?
Tylenol... I have ulcers in my bladder (intersitial cystitis) so Ibuprofen is not a good idea for me, which is too bad because it works better on headaches.
Do you hate or love life?
I love life but there are aspects I hate. Opposition in all things as the scriptures say.
Do you treat others as you'd like to be treated?
I sure try to.
If you were 12 again and you could see yourself now, would you be disappointed?
Where I am now isn't what I expected, but if I were 12 and saw my hot husband then I'd be very pleased.
Do you cry a lot?
I have quite a bit over the last year. Let's just say that even the best of relationships are full of trials.
Who did you have a meaningful conversation with last?
My husband
Do you make relationships complicated?
I don't, but if you let other people get involved in your relationship when they shouldn't be, that'll complicate things by far too much.
Apparently not.
If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?
Oy... let's just say I'm moving forward.
Do you like coffee?
I don't even like the smell. Plus I'm Mormon, we don't drink coffee.
How old might you be?
Might I be? I look about 16-18 even though I'm 23... so might I be is up for debate.
Do you still talk to the person you fell hardest for?
Uh, yeah... I'm married to him.
How do you handle stress?
I tend to hide from the world and eat chocolate.
Kids then marriage or marriage then kids?
Who in their right mind would answer kids then marriage?! Most people who have children out of wedlock didn't intend to do so. That's why I believe in abstinence before marriage because it's 100% guaranteed to prevent children before marriage.
Are you smart?
I'm a research writer.What do you think?
Do you collect loose change?
Oh, yes! In fact my husband and I make a game out of finding coins when we're out and about.
Do you go to church?
Every Sunday
Do you do anything crafty?
Jewelry, sewing / mending projects, etc.
Do you donate anything?
Tithing... and sometimes junk to the thrift store
What kind of pain reliever do you take for headaches?
Tylenol... I have ulcers in my bladder (intersitial cystitis) so Ibuprofen is not a good idea for me, which is too bad because it works better on headaches.
Do you hate or love life?
I love life but there are aspects I hate. Opposition in all things as the scriptures say.
Do you treat others as you'd like to be treated?
I sure try to.
If you were 12 again and you could see yourself now, would you be disappointed?
Where I am now isn't what I expected, but if I were 12 and saw my hot husband then I'd be very pleased.
Do you cry a lot?
I have quite a bit over the last year. Let's just say that even the best of relationships are full of trials.
Who did you have a meaningful conversation with last?
My husband
Do you make relationships complicated?
I don't, but if you let other people get involved in your relationship when they shouldn't be, that'll complicate things by far too much.
5 Month Anniversary
We've been married for 5 months!!! Woohoo! We've made it this far without killing each other so I guess we're doing pretty well ;-) Haha... truth is we're crazy about each other and clearly in love. Thank goodness because that's the only way to survive the trials of life as a married couple!
Friday, April 04, 2008
Yes, I'm a Survey Addict
Will you talk to the person you like on the phone tonight?
Much better... I'll talk to him in person then sleep in the same bed with him!
Do you own a computer?
Not only that, but I bought this computer with my own hard earned money and chose it to my own specifications. It's my baby ;-P
Who was your last call from?
Dorie this morning making sure I was available to go to the park with her and her boys.
What woke you up this morning?
My husband's alarm, then a short while later, my alarm.
Last time you went out of town?
Saturday Joshua and I went to Klein to attend the LDS Houston Temple.
Your current relationship status?
MARRIED
Are you crazy?
I have to be to be married to my husband. HA! In fact, that's why he chose me. He knew I was worth pursuing when I suggested and followed through with smashing a computer monitor with an ax, just for fun. He took me on our first official date two weeks after that. Yeah, we're perfect for each other.
Ever had a near death experience?
It sure felt like it when I woke up from my last surgery. It felt like my spirit and my body were disconnected with a rock in between them. It was the most horrific feeling ever!
What was the highlight of your week?
My husband giving me a massage... just because. That was really nice!
Last shocking news you heard?
The fee notice of $423 on our apartment door. Fortunately, it turned out it wasn't ours but it gave me a quite a scare.
Who can you open up to easily of the opposite sex?
My husband, of course! If I couldn't with him then I'd have a HUGE problem for the rest of my life!
Did you have a dream last night?
I don't recall, but the night before I dreamt I was in Gloucester with my husband playing with my cats. Then I woke up all homesick for my kitties!!! :-(
Have you ever been in love?
Oh, yes. Still am. Because believe me, if it weren't for love there is no way Joshua and I would still be together after what all we've been through. Love may not make the problems go away but it is what gets you through them.
Much better... I'll talk to him in person then sleep in the same bed with him!
Do you own a computer?
Not only that, but I bought this computer with my own hard earned money and chose it to my own specifications. It's my baby ;-P
Who was your last call from?
Dorie this morning making sure I was available to go to the park with her and her boys.
What woke you up this morning?
My husband's alarm, then a short while later, my alarm.
Last time you went out of town?
Saturday Joshua and I went to Klein to attend the LDS Houston Temple.
Your current relationship status?
MARRIED
Are you crazy?
I have to be to be married to my husband. HA! In fact, that's why he chose me. He knew I was worth pursuing when I suggested and followed through with smashing a computer monitor with an ax, just for fun. He took me on our first official date two weeks after that. Yeah, we're perfect for each other.
Ever had a near death experience?
It sure felt like it when I woke up from my last surgery. It felt like my spirit and my body were disconnected with a rock in between them. It was the most horrific feeling ever!
What was the highlight of your week?
My husband giving me a massage... just because. That was really nice!
Last shocking news you heard?
The fee notice of $423 on our apartment door. Fortunately, it turned out it wasn't ours but it gave me a quite a scare.
Who can you open up to easily of the opposite sex?
My husband, of course! If I couldn't with him then I'd have a HUGE problem for the rest of my life!
Did you have a dream last night?
I don't recall, but the night before I dreamt I was in Gloucester with my husband playing with my cats. Then I woke up all homesick for my kitties!!! :-(
Have you ever been in love?
Oh, yes. Still am. Because believe me, if it weren't for love there is no way Joshua and I would still be together after what all we've been through. Love may not make the problems go away but it is what gets you through them.
Most Impressive Latter-Day Saint / Mormon Temples
See my list on Dootsi.com about the Most Impressive Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
http://dootsi.com/showlist.php?listid=535
My list includes:
-Salt Lake City
-Washington D.C.
-San Diego
-Logan
-Cardston Alberta
-Oakland
-Portland
-Houston
I considered putting Washington D.C. first because I have always been more impressed with it than with Salt Lake City, but I based my decision on square footage. Apparently the Salt Lake City Temple does have more square footage than the Washington D.C. Temple. Just seems like the Washington D.C. Temple is bigger to me. It sure is the tallest! I miss that temple! But I'm getting used to the Houston Temple. At least it's one of the prettier smaller temples.
http://dootsi.com/showlist.php?listid=535
My list includes:
-Salt Lake City
-Washington D.C.
-San Diego
-Logan
-Cardston Alberta
-Oakland
-Portland
-Houston
I considered putting Washington D.C. first because I have always been more impressed with it than with Salt Lake City, but I based my decision on square footage. Apparently the Salt Lake City Temple does have more square footage than the Washington D.C. Temple. Just seems like the Washington D.C. Temple is bigger to me. It sure is the tallest! I miss that temple! But I'm getting used to the Houston Temple. At least it's one of the prettier smaller temples.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Lies Taught in College
I just submitted another application for a writing job (yeah... I just got a job but I can't resist applying for better paying and more interesting ones) and I'm in love with this article that I wrote. I know it's controversial, but hey, that's what writers do. Enjoy!
Lies Taught in College
By: Sarah Eve
(sencrafter)
Published as a list on Dootsi.com http://dootsi.com/showlist.php?listid=463
College is supposed to be an educational environment teaching you all that you need to know to succeed in the real world. We wish that were true! The reality is that universities are infamous for perpetuating lies. Why? To get more money of course!
Statement: “Anyplace will hire you as long as you have a degree.”
Response: False! While there are many jobs that require a degree, there is no guarantee that a degree alone will get you hired. We live in a day and age where Bachelor's degrees have become commonplace. A couple of generations back, a degree meant having an edge on the competition because this level of education was indeed rare. This is no longer true. If your grandparents or even parents are telling you that if you get a degree you are sure to get a high paying job, DO NOT LISTEN to them! This advice is outdated. The truth is a degree is merely resume fodder that will help you to gain employment, but it does not carry the weight it once did.
Statement: “Creative Ideas are always good ideas.”
Response: This is another falsehood found in the college realm. The truth is just because an idea is creative doesn't mean it is a viable concept. Too often grading is based on displaying some level of effort rather than learning principles and accurately applying them. This leads to egotistical college graduates that assume all of their ideas are brilliant because they got A's for their half baked blunders. Soon after graduation their ego is burst when employers, co-workers, or even friends or family prove that their supposed solutions lead to certain failure. The next time you want to offer a creative suggestion, make sure it's a good one.
Statement: “If you don’t have a degree you’ll never succeed.”
Response: Bill Gates is the most obvious example of why this statement is false. The truth is people skills, problem solving, and inventive ideas are usually the key factors in whether or not a person will be successful. Generally these talents are learned through life experiences, are born gifts, or a combination thereof. For a list of famous successes that never completed college see: http://www.rateitall.com/t-20542-success-without-a-college-degree.aspx
Statement: “Education counts for more than experience.”
Response: I don't know why colleges and universities are now encouraging students not to work during their school years. I understand that focusing on studies will make for better grades, but something much more important is missing here. Employers hire based on experience! Sure, there are some "entry-level" jobs out there that claim "no experience necessary" but they aren't very common. Even simply working at a fast food chain a few hours a week while in college will give you an edge on your fellow graduates when it comes time to compete for jobs (think about all of the customer service and team work skills that can then be added to your resume just from flipping burgers). A resume that merely lists a degree with no work experience is sure to be quickly rejected. This is also a good reason to take advantage of internships because they will give you that experience to later put on your resume.
Statement: “Debt is a good thing.”
Response: This is yet another lie to lull you into security when forking over large sums of money that isn't even yours to begin with. Obtaining a degree has never been more expensive, yet schools brush this off by simply saying "You're investing in your future" and feeding you other lies of how easy it will be to get a good paying job after you graduate. It's nowhere near as easy as they make it sound to land that dream career. Furthermore, debt is an all-consuming weight that will burden you for years. Granted, student loan debt has drastically lower interest rates than credit card or car loan debt, but ANY debt will burden you. Do your best to obtain scholarships and financial aid to minimize the amount of debt you will incur.
Statement: “Working restaurant or retail is beneath a college graduate.”
Response: You'd be surprised how many people with a college education work at fast food restaurants or in your local mall. Any hard working adult making their own way in this world needs to earn a living. Waiting for that dream job to come along while sitting around is only an option for those sad perpetual children who are still living with their parent(s) well into their adulthood. But even then, often parents require some financial contribution from their adult child (as they should) and so it is time to suck it up and work. Don't ever believe that this line of work is beneath you, because you never know what may be in your future. And don't believe the college employees when they claim that a degree will save from such a fate. A degree merely gives you the possibility of obtaining a better job, no guarantee.
Statement: “There are plenty of jobs in the Liberal Arts field.”
Response: If you choose a liberal arts major (whether History or English, etc.) be prepared to also take courses in teaching. While yes, there are some liberal arts jobs available, there are more qualified candidates than positions. It is stiff competition. The biggest pool of jobs available to liberal arts majors are within teaching. Keep that in mind while choosing a major. As long as you want to teach what you are learning, then go ahead and proceed with your liberal arts degree.
Statement: “Minimal effort is acceptable.”
Response: Yes, it takes a lot of hard work to do well in school. However, minimal effort can actually earn a degree. There's a saying going around, "A's may pay, but C's get a degree." Coasting like this is rarely acceptable in the work place. I've seen too many college friends graduate only to find out that the work they put into their education pales in comparison to the work they must complete to earn a living. Don't be fooled into the easy way out. Minimal effort won't be accepted.
Lies Taught in College
By: Sarah Eve
(sencrafter)
Published as a list on Dootsi.com http://dootsi.com/showlist.php?listid=463
College is supposed to be an educational environment teaching you all that you need to know to succeed in the real world. We wish that were true! The reality is that universities are infamous for perpetuating lies. Why? To get more money of course!
Statement: “Anyplace will hire you as long as you have a degree.”
Response: False! While there are many jobs that require a degree, there is no guarantee that a degree alone will get you hired. We live in a day and age where Bachelor's degrees have become commonplace. A couple of generations back, a degree meant having an edge on the competition because this level of education was indeed rare. This is no longer true. If your grandparents or even parents are telling you that if you get a degree you are sure to get a high paying job, DO NOT LISTEN to them! This advice is outdated. The truth is a degree is merely resume fodder that will help you to gain employment, but it does not carry the weight it once did.
Statement: “Creative Ideas are always good ideas.”
Response: This is another falsehood found in the college realm. The truth is just because an idea is creative doesn't mean it is a viable concept. Too often grading is based on displaying some level of effort rather than learning principles and accurately applying them. This leads to egotistical college graduates that assume all of their ideas are brilliant because they got A's for their half baked blunders. Soon after graduation their ego is burst when employers, co-workers, or even friends or family prove that their supposed solutions lead to certain failure. The next time you want to offer a creative suggestion, make sure it's a good one.
Statement: “If you don’t have a degree you’ll never succeed.”
Response: Bill Gates is the most obvious example of why this statement is false. The truth is people skills, problem solving, and inventive ideas are usually the key factors in whether or not a person will be successful. Generally these talents are learned through life experiences, are born gifts, or a combination thereof. For a list of famous successes that never completed college see: http://www.rateitall.com/t-20542-success-without-a-college-degree.aspx
Statement: “Education counts for more than experience.”
Response: I don't know why colleges and universities are now encouraging students not to work during their school years. I understand that focusing on studies will make for better grades, but something much more important is missing here. Employers hire based on experience! Sure, there are some "entry-level" jobs out there that claim "no experience necessary" but they aren't very common. Even simply working at a fast food chain a few hours a week while in college will give you an edge on your fellow graduates when it comes time to compete for jobs (think about all of the customer service and team work skills that can then be added to your resume just from flipping burgers). A resume that merely lists a degree with no work experience is sure to be quickly rejected. This is also a good reason to take advantage of internships because they will give you that experience to later put on your resume.
Statement: “Debt is a good thing.”
Response: This is yet another lie to lull you into security when forking over large sums of money that isn't even yours to begin with. Obtaining a degree has never been more expensive, yet schools brush this off by simply saying "You're investing in your future" and feeding you other lies of how easy it will be to get a good paying job after you graduate. It's nowhere near as easy as they make it sound to land that dream career. Furthermore, debt is an all-consuming weight that will burden you for years. Granted, student loan debt has drastically lower interest rates than credit card or car loan debt, but ANY debt will burden you. Do your best to obtain scholarships and financial aid to minimize the amount of debt you will incur.
Statement: “Working restaurant or retail is beneath a college graduate.”
Response: You'd be surprised how many people with a college education work at fast food restaurants or in your local mall. Any hard working adult making their own way in this world needs to earn a living. Waiting for that dream job to come along while sitting around is only an option for those sad perpetual children who are still living with their parent(s) well into their adulthood. But even then, often parents require some financial contribution from their adult child (as they should) and so it is time to suck it up and work. Don't ever believe that this line of work is beneath you, because you never know what may be in your future. And don't believe the college employees when they claim that a degree will save from such a fate. A degree merely gives you the possibility of obtaining a better job, no guarantee.
Statement: “There are plenty of jobs in the Liberal Arts field.”
Response: If you choose a liberal arts major (whether History or English, etc.) be prepared to also take courses in teaching. While yes, there are some liberal arts jobs available, there are more qualified candidates than positions. It is stiff competition. The biggest pool of jobs available to liberal arts majors are within teaching. Keep that in mind while choosing a major. As long as you want to teach what you are learning, then go ahead and proceed with your liberal arts degree.
Statement: “Minimal effort is acceptable.”
Response: Yes, it takes a lot of hard work to do well in school. However, minimal effort can actually earn a degree. There's a saying going around, "A's may pay, but C's get a degree." Coasting like this is rarely acceptable in the work place. I've seen too many college friends graduate only to find out that the work they put into their education pales in comparison to the work they must complete to earn a living. Don't be fooled into the easy way out. Minimal effort won't be accepted.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Relief Society Enrichment Night
I went to Relief Society Enrichment last night. It was a lot of fun! They made us sit at tables assigned by our birth month since it was a birthday celebration because of the anniversary of the establishment of the Relief Society. It was a really good opportunity to sit with and get to know sisters that I didn't know, though I knew a couple of them but now I know them even better. We had salad and dessert. So yummy! There were different cakes, one on each table, but the one that got chased down was the chocolate cake, of course. Then we had a slideshow presentation about this painting of the Ten Virgins and what the artist was trying to portray with symbolism. It was nice to get some girl time!
Legally Changing My Last Name
So I finally did it. My new social security card will be arriving with my new last name. That means as of today my name has been legally changed to my married name. This process is intimidating, a big reason why I've put it off until I was more settled here in Texas. The other part is the resentment towards my in-laws and not wanted to have the same last name as them (can you blame me?). But it means the world to my husband for me to share his last name so I'm trying to focus on the fact that it is his last name and do my best to ignore where he got it from.
I figured I'd chronicle my process of changing to my married name here in hopes of helping others. At first, I looked at some websites that offered kits with forms to help, but they cost a lot of money! Then I posted a plea for help from my friends on facebook and myspace. I've got some amazing girlfriends who gave me wonderful advice, granted it varied a little, but it led me in the right direction. I was advised to start by changing my social security card. I googled social security and found the website and the form for the name change.
You need a SS-5 form which is found here:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html
I filled out the form and found my nearest Social Security Office. Today Joshua and I went down there. I made sure to bring everything from my marriage certificate to my old social security card. When we arrived, I took a number and we waited for my turn. When I was called up the lady requested 3 things from me:
1-The Completed SS-5 Form
2-My Marriage License
3-My Driver's License
I presented all three, she typed the information into the computer, she gave me a form to sign, then she handed me back all 3 items, printed my receipt, and handed it to me saying, "You'll receive your new Social Security Card in 2 weeks."
So overall it was a lot easier than I thought. It didn't cost anything. I didn't have to get a certified copy of my marriage license. The only thing was that I did have to call my Mom and ask her for her's and Dad's social security numbers so I could complete the form. Really not too hard.
Next up will be getting a new driver's license (pain in the butt here in Texas, it takes up to 6 weeks to get a new one, unlike Virginia where it only takes minutes) and the biggest pain will be changing all my bank accounts, credit cards, work info, etc. Wish me luck!
Next see:
New Driver's License Post April 23
I figured I'd chronicle my process of changing to my married name here in hopes of helping others. At first, I looked at some websites that offered kits with forms to help, but they cost a lot of money! Then I posted a plea for help from my friends on facebook and myspace. I've got some amazing girlfriends who gave me wonderful advice, granted it varied a little, but it led me in the right direction. I was advised to start by changing my social security card. I googled social security and found the website and the form for the name change.
You need a SS-5 form which is found here:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html
I filled out the form and found my nearest Social Security Office. Today Joshua and I went down there. I made sure to bring everything from my marriage certificate to my old social security card. When we arrived, I took a number and we waited for my turn. When I was called up the lady requested 3 things from me:
1-The Completed SS-5 Form
2-My Marriage License
3-My Driver's License
I presented all three, she typed the information into the computer, she gave me a form to sign, then she handed me back all 3 items, printed my receipt, and handed it to me saying, "You'll receive your new Social Security Card in 2 weeks."
So overall it was a lot easier than I thought. It didn't cost anything. I didn't have to get a certified copy of my marriage license. The only thing was that I did have to call my Mom and ask her for her's and Dad's social security numbers so I could complete the form. Really not too hard.
Next up will be getting a new driver's license (pain in the butt here in Texas, it takes up to 6 weeks to get a new one, unlike Virginia where it only takes minutes) and the biggest pain will be changing all my bank accounts, credit cards, work info, etc. Wish me luck!
Next see:
New Driver's License Post April 23
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Who wants $25 for free?
It's like a Paypal account and they'll give you $25 just for signing up. I got my $25 the other day (so did my husband when I got him to sign up), even transfered it to my regular checking account (optional, but I wanted the cash right away). It took only a few minutes to sign up. Talk about easy! They do ask for you social security number and contact information because they are a real financial institution which are by law required to collect such information.
Thanks!
~Sarah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
