News

So there have been a few small changes since the last time I posted. First, there is now only 1 month left before it's time to move... and we still don't have a place to go. We are looking but with limited internet access it seems that most places are already rented out before we check our emails the 2nd time. I'm having a debate in my head right now between 2 different houses. Both are farther from work than I would have liked but a good 25 min. closer than we are now. The first house is a really small (no problem really) house in the country. It's right next door to the landlord who seemed to like the idea of both a dog and a garden. If he's open to those ideas then he shouldn't be too much to worry about but you still never know. It's an old house that (I think) was moved to this location. I asked how the utilities were but the landlord didn't know since he's only had to pay the bills of an empty house. Still, just heating the house minimally the gas bill was about the same as our gas bill is with heat, stove/oven, dryer and fireplace. yikes. The second house is the same amount for rent but it is still being built. I'm guessing there is a subdivision going up and the landlords are building this place for a second income. We get to choose the colours and all the appliances are brand new. If we want the basement finished it's an extra $100 a month (which puts it up to our expected budget rent costs). I'm guessing with a new house the utilities are going to be cheaper. What I don't like is that.... it's in a subdivision. I want country. I want a garden. I don't want my dog to run around outside. I don't want to live in a lego world where all the houses around me look the same. Another problem is that this house isn't ready until September. That means we would be homeless for the summer. We are thinking of options and places to go but there are so many complications involved with bunking with family/friends. On the other hand, it could be an interesting and fun summer. We might even be able to save some money. I've also never lived in a brand new house. I feel so consumeristic just thinking about it though... I don't know why. Comments? Suggestions?
The second news in my life is.... I got hired at a new job. That's right! I finally got out of my rut and put out some resumes. I went to my first professional job interview and got in. The job is for a non-profit organization with a division in mental health. I'm not taking leaps and bounds here though. I've still got my plain old job as my main job and this one is very very part time. The hope is that once I'm trained in this organization I can start to pick up other hours in different programs than the one I was hired for (since my program only runs once a month). This job will get me more training in my field and good experience on my resume (which is lacking!). And maybe I can start to do more of my own personal training in what I love (horticultural therapy) and develop my own programs within this organization, or at least put it to use. This weekend is my first weekend to work at this job and I really don't know what to expect. I have a new job but since I haven't even worked there yet it doesn't really feel like much. I guess I'll have more to say about it later.
I'm looking forward to hearing some comments on this post. Dan and I seem to always want opposite things and sometimes it's hard to know when I'm being stubborn about an issue (because I know Dan wants the other) and when I actually have a legitimate arguement. Help.

Stolen pictures

I rarely get a chance to go online and browse slowly through other people's blogs but I was doing just that and stumbled on these GREAT pictures of Gavin, my nephew. I took them off of Aunt Michelle's blog who took them off of Alisha's blog. Wow.

And then, I found this picture of Grace, my niece. She is being compared to her brand new baby cousin who was just born (on the other side... i don't know her). Gavin and Grace are only a few days apart and it's hard to tell in these pictures but I think that Gavin is bigger. I haven't really seen Grace's smile yet much either. She was just developing it the last time I saw her. I can't wait to see her again. They call her their little mammoth. cute.

P.S. There is a guy sitting beside me here at the library who is watching REALLY loud youtube videos of European (???) military marches. It is super frustrating and loud. The drums and trumpets and the whole works.... grrr. I'm too embarrassed to say something though.

A quick getaway

I'm a bachelorette for the week. Dan is gone for the week taking an instructor course to teach First Aid/CPR. He's actually only gone till Thursday night but that feels like a week to me. I guess I've left him a few times so he should be able to take off for a week once in a while. Anyway, since he's gone I decided to go to my parents. I'm still working this week but why not drive to work from here than from our home. The time is the same but it's probably more mileage to go to work from mom and dad's than from our place. Mom and Dad are actually gone to a resort till tomorrow but I wanted to come here anyway since then I get to see my ADORABLE neice. I love that kid soo much! I can't get over how much love you can have for a person that didn't exist a year ago. I came here to Hilo late last night and woke up early enough to spend the morning at Amy and Joel's. As soon as I got there they took off for the barn and left me to babysit Grace. I love how they feel so comfortable to just leave and even say thankyou for babysitting. Yah right, it's my pleasure! I went to work for the afternoon and am back now with a fire in the woodstove, a stinky dog at my feet and a glass of wine close at hand. It's not quite the same without people here but the music (Tanglefoot?) and the wine helps. Besides, now I get to spend some focused time on this computer.

I wish that I had more of a habit of taking pictures. I have a great digital camera and I never use it. Half the reason is that I always forget it at home. Since I don't have pictures I'll describe a few that I have in my head... some mental pictures to describe what I've been up to:

Alisha and Frank, James and Larissa, and Dan and I sitting at the end of an empty hospital wing. Larissa has her foot up and is holding baby Gavin.

Dan and I are in mom and dad W's living room with the family. Dan is holding Gavin and making funny noises at him. It looks like Gavin likes the singing so Dan starts singing the "meh na meh na, do do do do do... " song (I guess you have to hear it). Gaving was actually laughing he liked it so much. It's soooo cute seeing a baby smile and laugh.

The couch bed is pulled out in our living room and Dan and I are sitting on it. Larissa is laying on the other couch and we spent an entire day watching TV and having all sorts of comments on every kind of show that we watched; mostly "the baby story", "bringing home baby", and "girlicious".

I'm in Amy and Joel's kitchen and I'm holding Grace in my right hand kinda like a football and I'm mixing flour with some of the stew juices (to thicken it) with my left hand. Grace is mostly sleeping and I don't need to hold her but I don't want to put her down because I love it that I'm with her and I get to hold her as much as I want. I eventually did put her down because I was getting food on her.