A Few Funny Things

1. I just remembered that our neighborhood is called Beverly Hill (just one), which makes me laugh. These houses are like 1200 square feet. They're cute, but they're old. Anyway, somebody thought they could make it sound more glamorous than it is. "Yeah, I live in Beverly Hill."
2. We buy tea to drink, but we buy it loose leaf. So my mom gave us these empty tea bags that we can fill ourselves to brew it. But they are called T-Sacs. Who's idea was it to leave off the k??? I get a little grossed out everytime I get the box down.
3. In my database at work are a lot of people who live in the area who have funny names. Some are harmlessly funny (Les Moore or Angel Fisher), some are more unfortunate (Mr. Glasscock), and some I would be uncomfortable trying to pronounce inoffensively (Ms. Bitsche).

That's all I have for you this morning.

New Life

This week has definitely been an adjustment. With Josh in the surgery rotation, we've been going to bed quite early. He gets up at 4 to be at the hospital before 5. Since we've gone to bed so early, I can't sleep for too long after that. I've been going to work at 7:30, which is nice because then I'm off by 3:30. But even then, Josh doesn't get home until at least 5:30, often later. It's so strange because he'll get home in time to eat, maybe read for a little bit, and then go back to bed. It's okay for a while, but I'm glad this lifestyle has an end date, and I bet when it gets close we will be more than ready.
On the plus side, I kind of like being an early riser. I get to bum around in the mornings, enjoy a cup of coffee, look at our fantastic garden (yes, Josh did build a waterfall; my job was mostly digging in the dirt), and take my time getting ready for the day. Who knows, maybe I'll adopt this habit permanently. Yeah, we'll see.
My job is still good. It's been a lot of fun moving to an office of mostly girls, and it seems that every week someone is retiring, or having a birthday, or having a baby - so we get to party! There is always cake somewhere. Who doesn't look for that in an office?
Lastly, the house is almost completely box-free! The garage is another story...

The Red Cross

After a week of sleeping late, blissfully spending my days putting my little home together, and going anywhere I pleased in the middle of the day, I have returned to the life of the employed.

However, I want everyone to go back with me in their memories to when I first blogged about moving to Tulsa and said, "...maybe I'll find a sweet non-profit to work for..." Well, folks, that dream has also come true. I was hired by the Tulsa Chapter of the Red Cross. I get to spend my days processing donations and directing the money into the proper disaster funds. The excitement level is similar to my previous job (ahem), but now I am busier and I get the satisfaction of knowing my number crunching means something to needy people.

Plus, if disaster strikes, everyone gets shuffled around and goes into superhero mode. So I could be asked to gather volunteers, or hand out food, or field phone calls, or clean up debris, or anything. That possibility excites me, too. Not that I'm hoping disasters happen to people just so I can feel good about helping, of course. But since they do happen, it will be nice to be able to do something.

Anyway, I've put in three glorious, non-profit filled days and am just so pleased about the organization, my coworkers, what I get to do, how close it is to our house, and just everything about it.

Sorry. I'm finished gushing about it now.

Alas, for the days of Crest Foods...

Josh and I are on a quest to find a new grocery store now that we're in Tulsa. All you OKC folk are lucky to live in the land of Crest Foods, and so far nothing here seems to compare.
However, I did have an interesting encounter at Reasor's today. I had just stepped into the hair product aisle when a stranger said, "Excuse me?" I turned to him and he informed me, "I am a painter, and I just wanted to tell you I think your hair is beautiful and I am going to incorporate it into a painting. The way you did it is just lovely." I said thank you, and that was all. He left, and I thought, "Gee, I guess I should braid my hair more often." Yep, just a braid. Apparently a very effective braid, though.

In other news, our so far unmentioned trip to Chicago and Portland was awesome. Again, in convenient highlight form for you:
1. Pickle and Tabby were awesome hosts, have a supercool apartment, and live down the street from a sweet independent coffee shop.
2. Charles' wedding was beautiful and a lot of fun. Quite a few people took full advantage of the open bar, giving us a couple very funny stories.
3. My mom's new oven makes a noise identical to the sound of Mario breaking open a coin box.
4. Seafood is delicious. Tillamook ice cream is delicious. Papa Haydn's is delicious. McMennamin's is delicious. Elephant ears are delicious. Et cetera - I don't think Joe and Meg will eat again for a month!
5. Free $30 bottle of wine from Nehalem Bay Winery. Go if you happen to be driving up the 101 between Tillamook and Cannon - it's fantastic!
6. A broken airplane meant we got an extra day in Portland and were able to hit the REI used gear sale and the Saturday Market after all.

Thanks Oregon friends for a great time - we'll see you in December!

My Life List

People have these lists of things they want to do before they die, right? Ya know, things like "go skydiving," or "see the pyramids," or "climb Everest." I've noticed that these lists exclude things like "get married" and "have a family." I guess those things go without saying in most cases.
Anyway, excluding the aforementioned "givens", I could only ever think of one thing that I would regret never having been able to do: see James Taylor live in concert. This was a major lifelong dream that I never thought would really work out.
You can probably guess where this is going: Last night Josh took me to see JAMES TAYLOR LIVE IN KANSAS CITY! Best. Concert. Ever. We were seriously only ten or twelve rows back. The music was phenomenal. That man can sing. He's got soul - and a nice sense of humor. He played almost all of his greatest hits album, and almost all of his new album. It was beautiful.
But now I don't have anything left on my life list. I guess it's all down hill from here.

Our House Is A Very Very Very Fine House

What a weekend! We had quality help in both OKC and Tulsa, so thank you - everything went so quickly!
Saturday we got everything in the house and a lot of things put away. We even entertained that night. Well, we brought the only constructed chairs into the living room and had coffee among boxes, but it was fun!
Sunday we painted the TV room. It. Is. Yellow. We taped ourselves into the room and said we wouldn't leave until it was finished. Unfortunately it took a lot longer than we planned, and we started to go a little crazy. We had to cut our way out and take a break.
Monday we put together the last of the furniture and kind of organized everything. Things are mostly in place, we just have to put stuff on the walls and load up the attic.
It's exciting having a home! We have a place that people can drop by anytime, and our stuff looks so much better than it did in our retro-ghetto condo. Not to mention we have squirrels, birds, and rabbits that run around our yard - it is awesome.
I want to go back and live there right now. But first I have to finish work, then we can go to Chicago, then we can go to PORTLAND, and then we can finally call it home. Then you can come over.

Moving Day(s)!

If anyone would like to help us load or unload, here's what you need to know:

Today (Friday) we'll have the truck starting in the late afternoon. If you'd like to call or swing by, we could use a little extra muscle getting stuff into the moving truck. I promise to have Kool-Aid for all volunteers.

Saturday through Monday we'll be in Tulsa. Stop by 1135 S Sandusky to help carry stuff in, unpack boxes, or maybe paint a room! Or, if you're not into the unpacking thing, give us a call and we'll do a coffee break. I'm sure we could use several during this adventure. I will keep a lemonade pitcher full at the house for all helpers.

Give us a call or show up if you want to do anything! Thanks in advance!