It has been a long time.

Since getting Viola, the major event has been David going to Tokyo, Japan for a year of school. We've been chatting every day online. He sends me pictures of Tokyo, his food, his friends, and himself. He is doing good and wants to say hi to everyone.

I've been weeding out unimportant habits / hobbies from my life since he's been gone. Trying to work on myself while I am alone so I will be a better wife once he gets back. One thing I have eliminated is almost all computer games. It has freed up some time and I am happier with one less thing to think about.

I hope all is well with my friends, family, and online buddies and I apologize for not reading many blogs over the last year or so. Life is getting less and less chaotic and I hope to return to reading blogs in the near future. I really enjoy reading about your lives and I miss the excitement of seeing a new post.

Daba Town Mascot

There is a new member of Daba Town - we will call her the mascot. I posted about how I've been wanting a dog and which kinds I would like to have.

Her name is VIOLA. Vie for short. She is a Shih Tzu and one sweet cuddly puppy! She is about 5 months old and not quite potty trained, but we love her anyway.

I love... (part 14)

I love how I felt yesterday when I received a gift ticket to see WICKED.
I love how much fun I had at the special Valentine's Dinner from Saturday night.
I love my husband and how much time we spent together last weekend.

Crazy!

Crazy, chaos, unorganized, hectic, busy...

These words decribe my life at the moment.

In the middle of beginning a new semester, for which I am teaching 8 class total, 4 for two different colleges, we are moving to a house with my parents, brother, and a friend... Three separate "families" coming together is not easy to organize.

Daba Town has relocated, but the citizens are happy and healthy - just busy.

I want to continue to write blogs and I have accumulated some funny things that have happened (also some crazy things, frustrating things, and sad things).

So I guess this is to be continued. :)

Forced Changes

Getting your car smashed from behind forces your life to change.

Don't worry! We are okay! We just have a more interesting life now.

My brother and his family are moving about 1600 miles away. That forces another change in my life: not seeing my sweet nephew biweekly.

Has anything forced a change in your life recently?

Updates in Daba Town

I appreciate your patience with my fewer updates. I had good intentions on blogging more frequently but they flew out the window:

• Got two part time teaching jobs: Brown Mackie and ITT Tech.
• My grandmother isn't doing well and is in the hospital.
• Our car was messing up but is now acting fine.
• I got my graduation present! A touch screen laptop so I can easily teach math to my students.

I wanna hear about fun summer plans! I am teaching all summer and David has summer school so I need to live through others' fun times.

Updates in Daba Town

I know it has been awhile. Sorry. That's what happens when you get three job interviews (finally) and graduate with your Master's degree. Now that school is out and things have calmed down I would like to say thanks to EVERYONE for all the help, love, and words of encouragement I received over not just the past few weeks but for my whole 19 years of schooling. A special shout out to my husband and my mom (madre) for the hours of extra encouragement.

In the next few posts I will be putting up pictures from the past month and moving right along with fun things I am planning to do now that I have EXTRA FREE TIME!!!!

News:

• M.S. Mathematics and celebrations with family and friends.
• Job @ Brown Mackie - contract signed for teaching a math class in June.
• Grad present ordered: super sweet tablet (touch screen) laptop. 

Updates in Daba Town

I have been busy lately. When I stopped being as busy I took a break to rejuvenate. So I haven't been commenting on blogs (though I have been reading most of them) and I haven't been posting much other than Quotes from Class.

Here are some things you've missed because I didn't post about them:

Big Things:

• I passed my thesis oral defense (big sigh of relief).
• I turned in the 2nd to last draft of my thesis (bigger sigh of relief).
• My little brother passed his GED test.
• My big brother took care of all his license issues with the state of New Jersey.
• Two nieces/nephews on the way- one due Aug 1, one due Nov 24.

Medium Things:

• I bought my cap, gown, tassel, and hood for graduation.
• David signed up for summer school.
• Lee J (nephew) crawls like a mad man, makes the "d" sound, and stands for long periods of time without falling.
• I have been eating healthy foods and feeling good about it.
• Played catch and hit some softballs with my dad. He says I "still got it."
• Made a baby blanket (star shape through crochet) and I'm almost done making another one (patchwork of knit squares).
• I learned how to make some new things like baby hats.

Small Things:

• Tulips from our roommate to celebrate the thesis accomplishments.
• David found 12 long gray hairs in a section on the back of my head.
• Less than one month of being a student (for awhile).
• Our dryer broke.
• I still want a dog but it might have to wait another year.
• I want a new lens for my camera because I want to get back into photography this summer.
• Haven't read a book in almost a month (no time and using it as motivation to lose weight).

Traditions in Daba Town (part 1)

We have a lot of traditions in Daba Town. Some we established as early as December 2006 (when David and I became an official couple). There are some we try very hard to keep and some we have missed a few times, yet it is still in the back of my mind. We made a rule when we got married: "We're our own family now! We get to make our own traditions!"

Since we have just experienced the massive celebratory season (middle November to middle January) and since we have a couple celebrations coming up, I thought it would be fun to list some of our non-traditional traditions.

• Birthdays- David's birthday is coming up: Birthdays begin with sparkling Welch's grape juice at midnight. They are spent with spouse = slave of birthday spouse. Usually this day includes an expensive restaurant meal (on top of family home-made, birthday person's requested meal some day after actual birthday). Since we are impatient people here in Daba Town, we usually buy expensive presents "for each other" in mid November and call them our "Christmas/Birthday" gifts. By the time birthdays come around, we always like to spend a little more on a small token-ish present, usually a video game.
  
• Valentine's Day- We were very poor for our first couple of Valentine's Days, so we began the $5 limit rule. For Valentine's Day we exchange gifts worth $5 or less. We've decided that after every 5 years of marriage we will add $5 to our gift limit. (David wanted us to start at $50 and work our way down, but he knows we can't afford THAT every year.)
• Thanksgiving- When on our own in Kentucky and working at the movie theater on Thanksgiving, we made the traditional mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, deviled eggs, and pumpkin pie. We also included egg rolls and jalapeno poppers.
  
• Daba Day- January 26th, the average of our two birthdays. We didn't do anything special for Daba Day this year because on that particular day we were really busy with school. This day came about because of the Wii. We thought it would be fun to make a "Mii" character who was the average of both our features. It was just a joke. When they asked for the name, of course we put Daba, but then it asked the birthday and we realized Daba needed a special day! Why put our anniversary when we can come up with another day to make special- another "excuse" to have fun? Thus the average of our birthday became a Daba Town holiday. Sometimes it is celebrated with a date or just making time to spend together at home, but we always say "Happy Daba Day!"

To be continued... but... What are some of your non-traditional traditions?

Photography

I don't usually promote my photography "skills" since I haven't had much time to practice them lately. I love the hobby, but it is just that, a hobby. Friends and family sometimes use me as a free substitute for professional pictures. I'm pretty sure they get the job done. At holidays and get-togethers, I am behind the camera and sometimes I take pictures of things I find interesting or pretty.

Note: I always want a better camera.

Here is a picture from a laid back, non-professional by any means, photo shoot of my nephew. Makes me wanna pinch his cheeks! ~Proud Aunt

I love... (part 8)

I love getting my residual check directly deposited into my bank account right when funds are getting low.
I love month-long vacations.
I love kissable babies/toddlers (aren't they all?).

2010 Already?

So I haven't posted much. I thought I would post more over break but I haven't been doing that. I am enjoying break more than ever before. I sit around... read... play video games... hang out with husband... It has been fantastic!
Here is a melting pot of thoughts from the past few weeks.

Resolutions:

• Lose "the weight" by the deadline of September 1st, then begin on 2nd half of goal weight.
• Finish Master's degree.
• Read the entire Bible at least once.
• Read over 75 books (repeat resolution).

Fun and Time-Sucking PS3 Video Games:

• Civilization Revolution
  
• Eden
• Wheel of Fortune
  
• Braid

Random Thoughts:

• New Moon was good enough to see twice in the theater but the story line is still my least favorite of the four Twilight Saga books.
• Still don't like doing housework.
• Sore throats are a bummer.
• South Beach Diet is the only diet that works for me (and holidays).
• iTunes giftcards do not suck.
• Family Game Nights are still the best.
• I still LOVE my LG Dare cellphone- even after a year.

Well, that's about it right now. I might add some to this post as I think of items.

Writing a Story

My mom wants to write a novel in the month of November because of Nation Novel Writing Month. She is already working on a blog story and another novel, but the rules say you must start a new work and get 50,000 + words written (typed) before December.

I have never considered myself a writer. A reader, yes. Writing has never been enjoyable or easy for me. It doesn't help that I put up my own stumbling blocks by reminding myself of the teachers who told me I couldn't write. I force myself to write so I don't become illiterate.

Mom likes to do things with others and I am not such a bad audience. I like to be "designated reader" for her from time to time. I like to think I can come up with fun plots or characters, even if I can't actually write the story. Well NO MORE OF THAT! I have written 6000 words this month (a miracle?) and I am enjoying most of it. I actually downright LIKE our story and it is fun to see it grow.

We may or may not try to publish, but I can almost guarantee it will be available to read in the future- either in book or blog form. So if you like "chick lit" you might want to watch out for our story!

Halloween

This year we celebrated on the 30th at a party put on by some friends from church.

David and I decided to take the cheap route and make our costumes.

I must say they were a hit, but the little ones needed us to remove our masks before they would get near us. Who knew stick figures were scary?

Welcome to the World!

I am happy to announce my friend "C" and his wife "B" had their first baby: Lydia Charlotte! She was early (due on Halloween) but I know her parents were as sick of waiting as she was. She is such a blessed girl already! She has such wonderful people as parents (and an awesome "aunt Bailey").

I was waiting for her arrival to post pictures of the present I painted for her. I got the idea from a friend who likes to wood-burn and paint wooden items for people. She's made me a beautiful candle holder and that wonderful Math Wheel (see other post). B decorated Lydia's nursery in all things Dr. Seuss. They have blankets and sheets, they painted scenes to hang on the walls, etc. I thought that I could make a stool for the nursery that had a The Cat in the Hat theme with the hat's stripes on the legs. I love the way it turned out and I plan to make more of different themes for presents in the future. C and B said they love it. I hope Lydia loves it (eventually), too.

I really wish I could go meet her. Thousands of miles is very expensive! I hope to meet her before she turns one and I plan on seeing tons of photos!

I love... (part 3)

I love students who are eager to learn (and bonus if the student has deep understanding with little effort).
I love my travel coffee mug (took trying 3 different styles before finding the right one).
I love my brother who is 26 today. (Happy birthday!)

Waiting

We are waiting for Lee J!!!