I have been Lost

I have been feeling guilty about slogging as Rebecca calls it. I think about posting but feel like my life is pretty ho hum.

Daniel, Angela, the Molzens and I went visit the Biltmore Mansion in March. We had a great time and it was free. The Molzens have season passes and they had buddy passes during the off season. The weather was great.

I am staying pretty involved in the Young Adults group at St. Vincent. We have meetings every other Monday and go to Mass and dinner every Wednesday.

Also I have been addicted the the show Lost all of seasons 1-5 are on Hulu, my only source for TV since Daniel and I do not have cable or a digital converter box thing. Lost was recommended to me by my high school friend Andy. The first five episodes were pretty boring and I was going to give up on it, but Andy told me it gets better. Then I was addicted. But now I have to wait for the final season to come out because I already missed the beginning of it.

So far I have been liking our new apt, well not so new anymore. The location is closer to work and Sarah, but farther from Church. However, there is more noise pollution. More dogs, buildings are closer together, walls seem to be thinner, I can hear my neighbors talking, more traffic noise. So that is pretty annoying, especially when I am trying to sleep. I think I have found a solution to that I am going to sleep with a fan on. All I have to do is get use to the sound of the fan. I used to use a fan to drown out the noises of people when in the dorms as college.
Those 3 places are pretty much the only places I go. I visit Sarah and the boys once or twice a week.

Joseph runs to open the door when I come over and immediately asks me if I want to see his room. His favorite thing to do is play dinosaurs, maybe even more he likes to go outside to look for lizards. Joseph doesn't really call me Nonnie anymore, mostly Rachel, Rachie (he hears Sarah call me that), or mommy (I don't know why calls me mommy sometimes, whatevs.)

Work has been a alright. I usually work 6 days a week. I pick up an extra shift on my days off to get as close to 40hrs as I can.

Feast with a Priest, and other happenings

My young adults group bid on "feast with a priest" which was a fundraiser for St. Ann's. It was a dinner party with the pastor Fr. Reid hosted by a couple from the parish. It was a New Orleans style dinner, beforehand I had a suspicion that this would include shrimp and it did! Fr. Reid said I should go for it. I dared to eat 3 and I had a barely noticeable reaction, which was pretty exciting. Now I may consider trying it again should the opportunity arise. Anyway the food and conversation were really good. The bread pudding was really good and I will post it on the recipe blog.

In other news, I had an interview at Tan Books/ St. Benedict's Press (Catholic books publisher). It went very well and I heard from my friend who works there that they liked me; however they are not hiring from 3-6 months. I was totally bummed when she said that, but oh well I am not going to hold my breath.

My life is kinda boring. I found a new apt to live in with 2 bathrooms. It is pretty nice. We didn't go for renovated because it cost more. Cost then location were our biggest priorities. We will be a lot closer to Sarah. It is off or 51 near Elm for those of you who know Charlotte. I will send out our new address when I know what it is.

Apartment Hunting

My and Daniel's lease is up mid-November, I have decided not to renew. It's time I get my own bathroom and I want a place with a fitness center. I have looked at a lot of places and it will be a tough decision. Any adivse family?? What should I definately look for? I am pretty sure I want the top floor, because it will be the most quiet, I also don't know whether I want to spend the extra $50 or so a month for renovated. It would mean newer appliances. The ones we have now are alright, but the dishwasher does leak 50% of the time even after they "fixed it" by "replacing" the gaskets literally 7 times. Also, newer appliances would be more energy efficient supposedly and then we would have a lower electric bill.

Mabye I am worrying a little too much.

PS: Daniel is basically healed up. His knew has a little scab left and he wears a brace on his left hand now. He reinjured/slowed its recovery at work with all the lifting.

PPS: Daniel is in better spirits than when he last posted, he was pretty blue before, but he is getting out more with friends and he paid the ticket and is looking for a new job, but please keep us in your prayers.

No News is Bad News

Rebecca wonders why we don't post more. We don't want to bring anyone down with our constant cascade of disaster. Yes, I was in a scooter accident and was in the ER but that's just part of it. I haven't gotten any pay increases in the last 18 months and in fact a relative pay decrease. I'm looking for work when there is 10-16% unemployment/underemployment. The state is garnishing my already below poverty level wages as if $20 a week would actually reduce an estimated payout amount of $112,834.94 and that's just state and not counting federal. I have to pay for a speeding ticket otherwise my license will be revoked on Sept 15. Looks like I don't get cash for clunkers or the $8000 for buying a home. The government gravy train has left me at the station. Time to apply for food stamps, welfare and medicaid while trying to solve my legal issues. I have to make some decision about what I'm going to do for housing because Rachel doesn't like our apartment very much. If I can get nationwide to actually insure my car for $80/mth I can keep driving otherwise I have to turn in the plates even if I do pay off my traffic ticket. My wrist still hurts so back to see the doctor about getting some kind of brace so it can heal better.

No delightful stories of funny things my children did here. Pictures of my gruesome wounds, dented helmet and court documents will be available for your morbid fascination soon.

Incidents unreported

Two rare incidents occurred this week, both of which I failed to report and wish I had.

1) Tuesday: A queen size mattress, fell off a truck and hit the front end of my car when I was on the highway. It was hella scary, but I didn't stop and when I did I didn't see any damage. Since then no apparent damage to the car.

2) Some jerk threw an uncapped needle and syringe away in the bathroom at Sbux, and it stuck me in my thigh. when I changed the trash. I wish I had filed an incident report. I will tomorrow. I went back to get the needle out of the dumpster, just to be safe. I'm sure nothing is wrong, but it was unsettling.

Now I know next time stop and report!

My feet hurt

I worked a 10hr day at Sbux (Starbucks) from her on out I will use this abbreviation. I have become pretty vegetative since school got out. I am absorbed by my new free trial from Netflix. It is a guilty escape from the mounds of house work and other things that I want to do. However, without the pressure of lesson planning each night, I am enjoying more social events with Annie and Geoff, and the Young adults group. I went to Rusan's and played pinochle with Annie and Geoff. It was a lot of fun. My goal is to visit with them once a week and with the Woods too. Daniel has begun a habit of visiting them nephews weekly too. Things at Sbux are the same old same old.

Daniel has a small zoo at our house. It was built in the last month or so. It has travelling exhibits to the Wood home. Joseph loves it and talks about it every time we go over there. Daniel has 3 hermit crabs, started with five and already had casualties. There is also a fire bellied toad, a little green annul lizard, which Daniel introduced to Joseph as a baby dinosaur, appealing to his love of all things dino. I still cant believe he no longer calls them beegos. Dan also has a tiger salamander, which escaped from his dish while Daniel was cleaning its tank. We were upset after an extensive search he was located in the very last spot we could think of, under the couch. Daniel couldn't fathom that the thing could escape. I was anger at his naivete and his negligence. Oh well, there are many benefits to living here too. He is good company and I am getting to know him better and help him out. We help reminding each other of various things. Back to pets Dan also a dwarf albino hamster that she-who-must-not-be-named gave him 2yrs ago for his birthday.