Already a Year?

One year ago yesterday I became a homeowner. I signed mortgage paperwork and entered deeper debt but I now have a home to call my own. Somewhat hard to believe it's already been a year.

On the Road Again....

The honey is back on the road...different company this time. So far he seems happy with them--says they actually seem to care about their employees. Time will tell! They arranged a bus ticket for him to Birmingham, Alabama for three days of training and then off he went. He thought he'd be going to Dallas to get a truck but was routed to Wisconsin. And they even sprang for a rental car for him and two others there.

He is currently on his third or fourth run--I've already lost count. And he's already got time off scheduled. He will be home in a little over two weeks for his birthday. At least he's not scheduled to be gone months at a time as before. And he should be banking some money soon.

It took a day or two to get used to being home alone again but I don't guess it was that difficult. I'm back to doing very little cooking and eating out a lot--though I shouldn't. It's just so much easier to just grab something. The problem is that generally it's just crap. I was spoiled with the honey home and cooking for me.

On another note, I sold the Taurus. Somewhat sad to see her go as she was a really good car. Lots of good times. I might have even been able to get more miles out of her but it really was time. At least now the honey won't have to worry about my transportation with him gone. I have something reliable, with good tires and AC. And it's fun to drive! And now someone else can enjoy her...the new owner seems quite pleased.

Still Playing.....

I finished...or at least I think I've finished my first art journal entry. Not sure I'm that excited with it but at least I've started.

I have started on my next entry. Coated the pages with gesso and after they were dry I started adding sprays of various inks..Heidi Swapp-though I didn't shake them too well and then Ranger Dylusions which are the rich colors--love them! They can be picked up at Hobby Lobby in sets of 2 for about ten bucks. The can also be found at Texas Art supply for under 5 bucks each which is the cheapest I've found them but I seldom get to Texas Art Supply. It's something new to play with.

I added some washi tape which does not really stick to the gesso/sprayed pages so I used Close to My Heart Crystal Effects as adhesive. I think that's all I'm going to do for the night. Perhaps I will find some time and feel creative tomorrow and can/will add another layer.

More play...

Though I didn't take (or post) any pictues I played a bit more tonight after dinner. Added some more color and then some stamping and words and bad drawings. I'm not really happy with my end result and I don't know that I can or will add anything more. I will sleep on it but at this moment I'm thinking it's time to move on to the next entry. I also wish I had more time to sit and play with paper and pictures and paint and such. Honestly by the time I get in from work I don't always make the time to sit down to play. I'm usually busy with dinner and then poof, it's time for bed. Just gotta learn to balance it all.

And trying to get better with keeping up with things like this blog. It's time to get some structure, develop a plan of action and excute it. I've been in the house since August and there is still so much undone. I need to slow down enough to do the things that should have already been done. And take time to rest and relax.

Playtime......

Seems like forever since I've sat down to play. I've wanted to, planned to for the past few weeks but just never managed to do so. I've been busy at work and pretty much fried by the time I get home. Add to that some other turmoil and everything has been chaotic. I'm working now to find balance with it all...home, work, supporting a loved one and finding time for me to play. One step at a time.

It's been a fairly low-key weekend. Visited with girlfriends till late Friday night. Despite all that needed attention this weekend I spent time just hanging with the honey. Other than going out for breakfast and dinner we did nothing Saturday. It's been so long since that happened and I enjoyed every second. Today I've tried to get back in the groove for reality but have not been in too much of a rush for that. And as is my norm, as bedtime draws near I finally sit down in the studio to play.

I was dertermined to start play in my art journal and tonight I finally took the first steps. I prepped my pages with gesso then sat down with some paint and water. Once my pages dry I'll add my next layer though at the moment I'm uncertain what that will be. I have accepted that this is a process that may take a while. I cannot rush the process. Granted the day my come when I sit to play and go till I feel I am finished but that is not the case at the moment. For now I am going to take my time and let it speak to me.....

MSversary and other assorted rants....

Hard to believe May is here. So much has been going on that seems there is hardly a spare moment and when there is I don't seem to accomplish much if anything. April brought a trip to Austin and the annual loan conference. It turned out Rush was there that week and with nothing really happening in the evening with the demise of private lending over the past years I decided to see the show. I knew my buddy M was coming and though we wouldn't be able to sit together we could at least travel to and from the show together. I didn't get my ticket till Saturday before the show so imagine my surprise when I found myself just to the side of the stage with a great view.





As expected, it was a great show. Glad I made the decision to get a ticket!

It's always fun being in Austin and seeing friends. Normally these conferences give me a new focus and energy but this year I only felt stressed by it all. All the new regulations and proposed regulations and the overall day-to-day. The timing of the meetings from Tuesday to Thursday was a bit odd too in that I had to go back to the office on Friday. It was late before I got away from Austin and then just outside Sealy my car kinda sputtered and then a light on the dash came on. Here I am driving 70-75 down the road trying to dig out and check the owners manual about the light. Overall the car seemed to be running fine but the light was staying on and I was growing uneasy. I made it home, parked the car and there it sat for the next week.

Bill said he would check it but it would be Friday at the soonest. It worked out that I could take the honey to work and take his truck so I wasn't without wheels. When he got off we made a dash into Sugar Land for a little (used) car shopping. We didn't have a great deal of time since it was after 7p when we arrived. We did what we could, had dinner with the Myers and I took their jeep home to return it the next day.

The plan was to get a used vehicle and that was my focus. Granted I have hoped when the honey got settled job wise we could think about a new vehicle but fate stepped in and moved that deadline. After about and hour at the car lot picking cars Bill decided we needed to go check the local dealership. On a bit of a whim he pulled into the Ford dealership (which if you know him is a big deal-LOL) and found a salesman he's known for years. Within about an hour we were headed to lunch and waiting on a return call to pick up my new vehicle. It was less than 30 minutes when I got the call telling me to be there in about an hour to get my new wheels--a 2013 Ford Escape. So much for used!



And I'm loving the new wheels though it's somewhat bittersweet saying bye to the Taurus. It was a good car..took me over 277,000 miles. Lots of memories, lots of good times. Who knows how much longer she will go and hopefully be loved by another (the honey drove it in to get it sold and he said she ran perfect so who knows).

And now the meaning behind my post title. Five years ago tonight I was in Hermann Hospital awaiting the first of many tests that would lead to my diagnosis the next day (May 9, 2008) of MS. And so, I now refer to May 9, as my MSversary. What a ride it's been the last five years.

Catching up.....

As usual, I've let time get away from me and here it is nearly the middle of April. The honey has started his new job so we are leanring and adjusting to the new schedule. It's all good except the mornings the alarm screams at 4am. UGH. Yes, several mornings he has gotten up at 4a to be there by 5am. Long days but at least he gets to come home at night. So much different from the previous employer. His days off don't/won't always coincide with mine but we will manage. After the past year this change is nothing!

Both spring and Easter break have come and gone so now the weeks stretch out ahead. The crazy, busy weeks are ahead. I've been working on set up for fall and getting things in order where that is concerned. Thanks to the Department of
Education it's more intense and detailed than previous years. I would like to think of it as job security but in today's economy, I'm not sure such a thing exists any longer.

We've been in the house eight months now and I am ashamed to say there are still boxes and such everywhere. I don't think any one room has been completely unpacked and set up. The main thing that says is there are lots of things I can live without since I have been doing so. Certainly time to make donations.

I am still working on Project Life which is a major accomplishment. I admit to being a bit behind but not too terribly so. Most of what is missing at this point is journaling. Every day I think when I get home I will work on it but then I fix dinner, clean up and poof it's time for bed. Then get up and do it all again. Ideally I could/should be working on it in the mornings between the honey going to work and my going in. I love my sleep more.

I don't know that I'll ever be a morning person. It's just not in my nature. I'd rather stay up half the night and then sleep in the morning. Works fine on weekends but come Monday it's hell. By the end of the week it really catches up with me. Don't think this old dog can learn that new trick!

Adventures....

February and March have been filled with um, ah, adventure. The honey hit the one year mark with Stevens on February 15, 2013, and had them route him to the yard ASAP after. Fortunately we didn't have long to wait. He was back in the state on 16th and he gave them a goodbye salute on the 20th. It was a quick trip to Dallas with nasty weather but I brought my honey home!

He was only home four times from February 2012 to February 2013 and even then very briefly. Finally he would be able to shower whenever he likes (and not have to pay for it) and eat a decent meal on a regular basis. And curl up in his own bed at night. Of course this also means we now learn to live with each other....24/7....well almost 24/7. Thankfully the adjustment hasn't been difficult. We're both independent people with various interests in addition to some shared interests. And no problems with the other going and doing. Perhaps a perfect relationship?

Armed with a new skill the honey got his tanker and hazmat endorsement and began his job search. Thankfully if wasn't too difficult or long. Granted there were a few times he felt frustrated but all has worked out. He is learning the routine and we are settling into one that works for us.



So why a squirrel?? During the downtime of the job hunt the honey was working around the house. He was busy clearning trees and weeds. And being a mountain man. Specifically hunting squirrel in OUR backyard. Much to my surprise, shock and um, horror--yeah horror, he killed a squirrel in the backyard and proceeded to skin it in my kitchen! Later that day we went to Barnes and Noble and upon finding the squireel pupet he decided he HAD TO HAVE IT (and I guarantee had he known the price before he got to the register he wouldn't have gotten it) but it was too late and now he is the proud owner of squirrel puppet he uses to taunt and remind me of his um animalistic side.....

I really have to got to stop letting him watch Duck Dynasty!

Just Paint!

I signed up for a painting class last Thursday but unfortuantely it was cancelled--not enough signed up. The upside was being able to go to open studio over the weekend and change my painting choice. Granted, I didn't make the change till I arrived and was looking around. And even at the last minute I was able to change to what you see above. So Saturday afternoon I slowed down for a couple of hours and spent some creative time. And I remembered again how much I enjoyed turning a blank canvas into a piece of art. If only I could gain the confidence to do it at home, on my own without step by step guidance. Open studio is definitely the way to go!

I wanted to continue my creative streak however life's chores got in the way. Grocery shopping, laundry, picking up around the house. And the dreaded taxes...duh, duh, duh. I bit the bullet, bought turbo tax and began. No more simple returns for me--at least not this year. Marriage, home and the honey's being basically 'self-employed' half of the year. Taxes are going to be a challenge but the good news is I have a start!...and I have someone to help. I would love to say they are finished but still awaiting some documents.

I'm slowly working on Project Life-doing my best to not get behind. And how cool is it having the honey's support! He knows what I'm doing and even asks on occassion about progress. He has hunting and fishing and I have scrapping. He's always teasing me about wanting to see projects 'flying out of the studio' and thinks I should be able to complete no less than 5 layouts in an evening even when I've told him that most likely will not happen. I finally found a way to put it in perspective he will understand. I told him just as he can't rush the hunt, I can't rush the creative process. I think he may understand--or at least says he now has an idea.

And then there is the biggest PLUS of all......two weeks and he hits his one year anniversary mark with the company. The plan then is to come home and find something local. I am a bit nervous about it yet at the same time super excited about having him come home. Fingers crossed he will be able to employment quickly upon his return.

(Project) Life

I said I was going to do it and I am! I am participating in Project Life this year where basically you chronicle your entire year in one place....as you go. It's a week by week project which does take some discipline. Yet there are no penalities for not keeping up or continuing-except maybe your own conscious. So far, so good. January is almost at an end and I've actually documented the past weeks-though updating my blog is entirely different.

With all that happened in 2012 it would have been a great year to chronicle along the way though there are times I would definitely have been playing catch up. So for now I will settle for working on a 2012 compilation project--lots of ideas running through my head just not enough time for it all. I forsee some mundane, humdrum times ahead but I am quite okay with that and will document them anyway.

Despite the insanity at work January has held a few adventures.

Of course there was the annual trek to Galveston for the Oak Ridge Boys shows. This year marks ten years in a row and I have only missed one performance in that time yet have seen them (there) every year. Unlike past years I did not stay on the island.



Unfortunately this year Richard Sterban did not make the trip. He was recovering from an injury so Gene McDonald from the Gaither group filled in. He didn't miss a beat (or note) but he's just not Richard.



I told the honey he has to take to me a show somewhere else this year so I can see Richard--and he agreed to it. Now I just have to get him home!

As January speeds to a close both our eyes are on the calendar awaiting the end of his commitment to his current employer. We are both anxious to get him home, employed locally and earning a steady, dependable paycheck.

And as I told him this morning, to get him home for yard work!

Speaking of which...the yard was looking a bit rough. Leaves everywhere with weeds springing up. Since the weather was somewhat unseasonably warm I got out early and raked the front yard. Okay, part of it and got most of the leaves out of the flowerbeds and bagged. After that I mowed the front and back. The back was a challenge because the 'yard man' left branches all over from his trimming adventures back in Decmeber. But I did make progress.





There was plenty more about the house that could have used attention but I just didn't have the time or the energy. It's all good though. I can work on things at little at a time because it's all mine!

Happy 2013

Another year has passed and a new one has arrived. 2012 brought things I never imagined a year ago today.....a house and a marriage.....can't imagine 2013 topping that. Of course there were challenges too but thankfully none unsurmountable.

Looking at the blog history it's obvious I got behind--posts were few and far between or totally non-existant. I hope to change that in the coming year. Notice I did not say I reolve. For one I think that term is a bit overused. I also don't like 'making reolutions' because that just seems like an invitation to lack achievement (notice I did not say failure because I don't like the negativity it describes). So, no 'resolutions' but rather as in past years, goals to be attained. And in my true lagging fashion, I am still working on them....

With the new year starting in the middle of the week I interpret that to mean I have a few days to ease into the year and then start full force after a weekend. Sounds good to me! This theory gives me a few days to get back into routine--return to work tomorrow--and work on those 'goals' for the year. And maybe between now and then I will finally narrow down my one little word for 2013........