Monday, August 19, 2013
Monday: "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough troubles of uts own." matthew 6:34
Goals for today:
Go to work, change my name, buy stamps, turn in 30-day notice, get a new phone, get boxes, clean the house, and start packing.
I went to work, and I had three footballs thrown at me because I'm moving. I got my name changed while the kids did zumba. In and out in 30 minutes. I am legally a Smith! I did not buy stamps. After work I came home, made the bed, changed my clothes, and then went back to work to print the 30-day notice paper, and proceeded to spend three hours running various errands. I discovered that the closest best buy with a windows phone is in Beaverton. I went to target and bought a dress and new sunglasses and shorts and flip flops. All on clearance, because I am awesome. Texas, here we come! I stopped at crossroads, the coffee shop where I used to work, talked for a while, and arranged to pick up some boxes tomorrow after work. It was good to catch up on people. I am going to miss that place, even if most of the people I worked with are gone now. We still stop in and give everyone the updates from time to time. Then I came home, checked the mail, did two loads of laundry, put away laundry, made a quesadilla with pesto, took out the trash, made a chicken pot pie for bible study, practiced forging my husband's signature, turned in the 30-day notice, and am now looking around my house and it is messier than before. Nothing is packed, either. Regardless, I still feel like it was a productive day and am feeling exhausted. I am going to give myself the benefit of the doubt and assume that I will get up and do the dishes before falling asleep watching my fair lady, but I don't know if it will happen. While in Texas, I started "working out" (what I consider working out hardly counts, but it's better than nothing) and I had grand ambitions of continuing to do so when I got home. I am under no false impressions that anything of the sort is going to happen tonight. Or probably at all this week. I am a lazy bum.
But anyway, that was my day. Maybe tomorrow I will clean.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Short updates
I am switching gears, slightly, and will now inform the Texans about what's going on here in Oregon. There isn't much to relate, so I will keep it brief.
I think the most exciting events of the past 24 hours were bubba running out onto the porch last night to greet me, grinning and saying "Ronnie!" over and over, and the llama we saw at the fair that was shaved like a poodle. No joke. It was pretty intense. Oh, and I guess you have to include the demolition derby. The kids were pretty excited over that one.
In church this morning my father asked if anyone had any God stories, and smirked expectantly at me until I spilled the beans. I thanked Ollie, and said that her grandson had successfully managed to uproot my life, and she said "are you moving to Texas? Oh good!" She was excited to hear the news, and after telling a short version of the story and giving a brief sketch of Breckenridge (minus the beer barn), she came up to me and told me that Dave had always liked Jesse. Always said he was a good kid, right from the start, and she knew we'd end up there eventually. I tried to stay and socialize for a little while, but after a few people came and wished us luck, and Barbara handed out orange licorice, I went and got my car and went home to try to get all the info together for Jlyn.
She texted me this morning and said that she is having a meeting tomorrow, and needed some info from me, as well as some references and my dance history. I finally got it all compiled and sent out about an hour ago. We spent more time at the fair than I had anticipated.
And that's about the end of my story for today. I'm about to head home and write the 30-day notice for the leasing office, and hopefully I will get to go to the social security office tomorrow, and get a new phone after work! =]
I think the most exciting events of the past 24 hours were bubba running out onto the porch last night to greet me, grinning and saying "Ronnie!" over and over, and the llama we saw at the fair that was shaved like a poodle. No joke. It was pretty intense. Oh, and I guess you have to include the demolition derby. The kids were pretty excited over that one.
In church this morning my father asked if anyone had any God stories, and smirked expectantly at me until I spilled the beans. I thanked Ollie, and said that her grandson had successfully managed to uproot my life, and she said "are you moving to Texas? Oh good!" She was excited to hear the news, and after telling a short version of the story and giving a brief sketch of Breckenridge (minus the beer barn), she came up to me and told me that Dave had always liked Jesse. Always said he was a good kid, right from the start, and she knew we'd end up there eventually. I tried to stay and socialize for a little while, but after a few people came and wished us luck, and Barbara handed out orange licorice, I went and got my car and went home to try to get all the info together for Jlyn.
She texted me this morning and said that she is having a meeting tomorrow, and needed some info from me, as well as some references and my dance history. I finally got it all compiled and sent out about an hour ago. We spent more time at the fair than I had anticipated.
And that's about the end of my story for today. I'm about to head home and write the 30-day notice for the leasing office, and hopefully I will get to go to the social security office tomorrow, and get a new phone after work! =]
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Saturday: Oregon
am nearly 3 hours into my flight from DFW to PDX and somehow I have managed to stay awake the entire time. I would much rather be sleeping, but I guess that's what I get for sleeping in.
We were all up late last night, talking and hanging out. Well, Matt was doing something inside and went to bed fairly early. I was ready to go to bed before 10:00 (like the old lady that I am) but apparently the place to be on Friday nights in Breckenridge is right outside our bedroom window. Regardless of my sleepiness, I am glad I stayed up. Call me a touchy feely sissy lala, but I can appreciate good quality time with the people Jesse and I are going to spend a good amount of the rest of our lives with. They really aren't a bad group. I know that the newness hasn't quite worn off yet, and everyone is being forced into functioning in a very communal way, but I honestly believe that everyone there cares about each other. Nicole said that we can stay with her until we find a place, which admittedly stemmed mostly from her fear of being alone out in the sticks with the banjos, and Dave multiple times told us that if we need anything when we get into town, to let him know and he will do whatever he can to help us out. As it got later he went on to tell them that they're like his kids and he has to look out for them. You can tell that he really cares about this group of people. I don't know Dave very well yet, but I have heard Jesse talk about him, and I am beginning to understand why he was willing to follow this man halfway across the country, even though he was almost left behind. He has his moment where you kinda wonder about him, but he is a good guy, and I am happy that we are here. I am happy that Jesse has been given the opportunity to be a part of this adventure, and I am happy to have been brought along and accepted by everyone.
Nicole's fiancee was happy to hear that I was there, and that she wasn't alone with a group of men anymore. I am glad that she is there, too. Again, I don't know her very well, and we probably don't have too much in common, but I have a feeling that I am going to enjoy spending time with her and getting to know her. If nothing else, it's just nice to have a girl around. I'm not accustomed to such a male-filled atmosphere.
Dave and Nicole and Ryan went to Dallas this morning, and shortly after noon Matt took off for Abilene, so I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my Texas family, which is a little sad, but I will be back in a few weeks! Since everyone was gone, and we had a car, being left to our own devices, we went to Joe's pasta and pizza. The waitress was super nice, like most people there seem to be. She asked "where are y'all from?" and when we told her Oregon, she said "oh y'all must be with colt!" She probably had suspected it, since I doubt many other people in town have colt hats like Jesse's, but she still seemed happy to hear it. She welcomed us to town, and talked for a while about her husband, who is a gunsmith, and one of the guys that works there now who apparently used to work with her husband, or something. They had a help wanted sign in the window, so if it's still there when I get back, I might see if I can pick up a day job. It couldn't hurt, and I miss restauranting.
After we left Joe's we drove around town a while and Jesse showed me where the shop is. It's big. There's also a creepy little ally thing behind what I think is a museum, which is totally weird.
Oh, we also looked at a house this morning! It's owned by the principal of one of the schools, but I forget which one. They're friends of Jlyn, and probably everyone else in town, so she told us about it last night. It's a cute little house, and has an unfinished guest house/playhouse in the backyard, and I think four pecan trees! It was a little funny to think about pecans actually being something you can grow. I feel dumb admitting that, but it was kinda like the cactus. I just surprised me at first. It was cute, and nice, and her little daughters are adorable, but it was rather small, and we were hoping to rent for a while before settling down and committing to buy a place.
So I guess we'll see what happened! Jlyn says she'll keep an eye out for good rentals, which are few and far between in Breckenridge, I hear. I'm sure it will all come together.
Only about 30 or 45 minutes left! And an hour drive back to Colton...I am ready to be on firm ground again.
PS the social security office is only open from 9-3 on weekdays, and closes at noon on Wednesdays. How dumb is that? I hate business hours.
We were all up late last night, talking and hanging out. Well, Matt was doing something inside and went to bed fairly early. I was ready to go to bed before 10:00 (like the old lady that I am) but apparently the place to be on Friday nights in Breckenridge is right outside our bedroom window. Regardless of my sleepiness, I am glad I stayed up. Call me a touchy feely sissy lala, but I can appreciate good quality time with the people Jesse and I are going to spend a good amount of the rest of our lives with. They really aren't a bad group. I know that the newness hasn't quite worn off yet, and everyone is being forced into functioning in a very communal way, but I honestly believe that everyone there cares about each other. Nicole said that we can stay with her until we find a place, which admittedly stemmed mostly from her fear of being alone out in the sticks with the banjos, and Dave multiple times told us that if we need anything when we get into town, to let him know and he will do whatever he can to help us out. As it got later he went on to tell them that they're like his kids and he has to look out for them. You can tell that he really cares about this group of people. I don't know Dave very well yet, but I have heard Jesse talk about him, and I am beginning to understand why he was willing to follow this man halfway across the country, even though he was almost left behind. He has his moment where you kinda wonder about him, but he is a good guy, and I am happy that we are here. I am happy that Jesse has been given the opportunity to be a part of this adventure, and I am happy to have been brought along and accepted by everyone.
Nicole's fiancee was happy to hear that I was there, and that she wasn't alone with a group of men anymore. I am glad that she is there, too. Again, I don't know her very well, and we probably don't have too much in common, but I have a feeling that I am going to enjoy spending time with her and getting to know her. If nothing else, it's just nice to have a girl around. I'm not accustomed to such a male-filled atmosphere.
Dave and Nicole and Ryan went to Dallas this morning, and shortly after noon Matt took off for Abilene, so I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my Texas family, which is a little sad, but I will be back in a few weeks! Since everyone was gone, and we had a car, being left to our own devices, we went to Joe's pasta and pizza. The waitress was super nice, like most people there seem to be. She asked "where are y'all from?" and when we told her Oregon, she said "oh y'all must be with colt!" She probably had suspected it, since I doubt many other people in town have colt hats like Jesse's, but she still seemed happy to hear it. She welcomed us to town, and talked for a while about her husband, who is a gunsmith, and one of the guys that works there now who apparently used to work with her husband, or something. They had a help wanted sign in the window, so if it's still there when I get back, I might see if I can pick up a day job. It couldn't hurt, and I miss restauranting.
After we left Joe's we drove around town a while and Jesse showed me where the shop is. It's big. There's also a creepy little ally thing behind what I think is a museum, which is totally weird.
Oh, we also looked at a house this morning! It's owned by the principal of one of the schools, but I forget which one. They're friends of Jlyn, and probably everyone else in town, so she told us about it last night. It's a cute little house, and has an unfinished guest house/playhouse in the backyard, and I think four pecan trees! It was a little funny to think about pecans actually being something you can grow. I feel dumb admitting that, but it was kinda like the cactus. I just surprised me at first. It was cute, and nice, and her little daughters are adorable, but it was rather small, and we were hoping to rent for a while before settling down and committing to buy a place.
So I guess we'll see what happened! Jlyn says she'll keep an eye out for good rentals, which are few and far between in Breckenridge, I hear. I'm sure it will all come together.
Only about 30 or 45 minutes left! And an hour drive back to Colton...I am ready to be on firm ground again.
PS the social security office is only open from 9-3 on weekdays, and closes at noon on Wednesdays. How dumb is that? I hate business hours.
Friday, August 16, 2013
"I'm gonna make this place your home."
Jesse texted me earlier today and said "well love button, we may have a date tonight." Of course, he said it without punctuation, but I couldn't stoop to such a low, even when quoting. He had a vague explanation about Kent and cheerleading, and shortly after I got a text from a woman names Jlyn (jay-lin) who sounded very excited to meet with me. She asked me to meet her at party planet at 8:00 and I realized that I would have to get dressed and look respectable. That part was not exciting. Nicole offered the company car, and after dinner we all sat around and talked about my prospects and other options in the event that this didn't work out.
We pulled up in front of party planet, not entirely sure what to expect. It looked like the city's closest thing to a coffee shop, and I wondered if that was her reason for meeting me there. Most of the visible walls were glass, so you could easily see a small office to one side, a pool table, a small smoothie bar, and kids everywhere. We went in and said that we were meeting Jlyn, just as she was coming in the door. Once inside we could see that it was, in fact, the studio. The small office had a pro shop that consisted mostly of a rack of bootie shorts and a row of cubbies holding poms.
She showed us around, and it just kept getting cooler. Off the pro shop was a dressing room, and in the back was a kids paradise. The floors were all springy, and there were bouncy houses and slides and a rope swing. The back wall had a foam pit with a rock wall on the far side. In one corner was a closed off area with a small bouncey house that she says is used for the toddlers, and might be used part of the time for martial arts classes. Down a hallway with a little game room off to the side was a small, square room with wood floors. That room will be my domain if I end up teaching there.
We talked for a little while about the other options for dance in the area, and what I have done in the past. She explained that during the school year kids are dropped off right after school and are able to take classes for an hour and then play for half an hour or so until their parents can come pick them up after work. She said that it is basically the only after school program in town, and all she wants is to see the kids in a good place.
She showed me the current schedule, and said that I can basically do whatever I want. Either they can hire me as an instructor, or we can go beauty parlor style, where I rent the space and charge my own tuition. Their classes start the first week of September, but she said that we could start offering mine in October.
I am going to send her some videos of the jets from last year, and hopefully find one of me dancing in Louis, and she is setting up a house for us to look at tomorrow morning.
Just yesterday she emailed someone from Graham about coming in and teaching dance, and she was very excited when Kent told her that we are moving into town. God is good, and I will never be without dance in my life.
I'm pretty sure that party planet is going to be my home away from home, and Jesse loved it there. She even said she'll teach me to tumble!
Awesome status...we officially discovered the coolest place in Breckenridge.
We pulled up in front of party planet, not entirely sure what to expect. It looked like the city's closest thing to a coffee shop, and I wondered if that was her reason for meeting me there. Most of the visible walls were glass, so you could easily see a small office to one side, a pool table, a small smoothie bar, and kids everywhere. We went in and said that we were meeting Jlyn, just as she was coming in the door. Once inside we could see that it was, in fact, the studio. The small office had a pro shop that consisted mostly of a rack of bootie shorts and a row of cubbies holding poms.
She showed us around, and it just kept getting cooler. Off the pro shop was a dressing room, and in the back was a kids paradise. The floors were all springy, and there were bouncy houses and slides and a rope swing. The back wall had a foam pit with a rock wall on the far side. In one corner was a closed off area with a small bouncey house that she says is used for the toddlers, and might be used part of the time for martial arts classes. Down a hallway with a little game room off to the side was a small, square room with wood floors. That room will be my domain if I end up teaching there.
We talked for a little while about the other options for dance in the area, and what I have done in the past. She explained that during the school year kids are dropped off right after school and are able to take classes for an hour and then play for half an hour or so until their parents can come pick them up after work. She said that it is basically the only after school program in town, and all she wants is to see the kids in a good place.
She showed me the current schedule, and said that I can basically do whatever I want. Either they can hire me as an instructor, or we can go beauty parlor style, where I rent the space and charge my own tuition. Their classes start the first week of September, but she said that we could start offering mine in October.
I am going to send her some videos of the jets from last year, and hopefully find one of me dancing in Louis, and she is setting up a house for us to look at tomorrow morning.
Just yesterday she emailed someone from Graham about coming in and teaching dance, and she was very excited when Kent told her that we are moving into town. God is good, and I will never be without dance in my life.
I'm pretty sure that party planet is going to be my home away from home, and Jesse loved it there. She even said she'll teach me to tumble!
Awesome status...we officially discovered the coolest place in Breckenridge.
Friday: checklists
I started a checklist today of everything that I need to get done before we move. Like change my name and close my bank accounts and figure out how to break our lease. Apparently we have to give 30 day written notice that we both have to sign, pay the last month's rent, and pay the $1087.50 fee. Moving is expensive!
I called nana and papa today and talked to them about it. They were happy to hear from me, and sad that we are leaving, but happy for us, and quite encouraging. I am very thankful to have such a wonderful family.
I talked with them for about 40 minutes, and since then I have been trying to use my time in a productive way. I started with the essentials, making a Mexican mocha and reading The Great Gatsby, which I borrowed from Ryan. We got talking about books last night over dinner, and I mentioned that I hadn't read it, so he's letting me borrow his copy. I ought to be able to finish it before I leave tomorrow. I was happy to discover another reader; the rest of the Oregonians, my dear husband included, do not share my love of books, and it's nice to know that someone understands, and will be willing to talk about them with me.
I have also been trying to help plan our drive. Ryan made it in two and a half days, but it took the others considerably longer. I believe we will be able to do it in four or five. Our options are
Oregon city, OR to Payette, ID
388.32 miles
Payette, ID to Salt Lake City, UT
396.82 miles
Salt Lake City, UT to Denver, CO
517.92 miles
Denver, CO to Amarillo, TX
424.06 miles
Amarillo, TX to Breckenridge
287.86 miles
Or
Oregon city, OR to Payette, ID
388.32 miles
Payette, ID to Green River, WY
519.61 miles
Green River, WY to Boise City, OK
645.26
Boise City, OK to Breckenridge, TX
406.06
Either way, its alot of driving.
We have also been looking at cars and houses. Jesse sent me a couple ads today for lifted suburbans. I guess I did say that I wanted a family car...I could drive a lifted suburban, why not? We probably won't be able to buy a house for a while, but we both like this one:
http://www4.ntreisinnovia.net/ntr/idx/detail.php?mls=11941155&key=971b15f20f3bb8677c886910fa02c090
There are others, but I think that one is my favorite so far. House buying is a ways down the road, though. I have tried to look at apartments, but again, people in Breckenridge don't seem to believe in the internet, so much search has been disappointing.
So for now, I will go back to contemplating how best to climb the tree in the back yard...
I called nana and papa today and talked to them about it. They were happy to hear from me, and sad that we are leaving, but happy for us, and quite encouraging. I am very thankful to have such a wonderful family.
I talked with them for about 40 minutes, and since then I have been trying to use my time in a productive way. I started with the essentials, making a Mexican mocha and reading The Great Gatsby, which I borrowed from Ryan. We got talking about books last night over dinner, and I mentioned that I hadn't read it, so he's letting me borrow his copy. I ought to be able to finish it before I leave tomorrow. I was happy to discover another reader; the rest of the Oregonians, my dear husband included, do not share my love of books, and it's nice to know that someone understands, and will be willing to talk about them with me.
I have also been trying to help plan our drive. Ryan made it in two and a half days, but it took the others considerably longer. I believe we will be able to do it in four or five. Our options are
Oregon city, OR to Payette, ID
388.32 miles
Payette, ID to Salt Lake City, UT
396.82 miles
Salt Lake City, UT to Denver, CO
517.92 miles
Denver, CO to Amarillo, TX
424.06 miles
Amarillo, TX to Breckenridge
287.86 miles
Or
Oregon city, OR to Payette, ID
388.32 miles
Payette, ID to Green River, WY
519.61 miles
Green River, WY to Boise City, OK
645.26
Boise City, OK to Breckenridge, TX
406.06
Either way, its alot of driving.
We have also been looking at cars and houses. Jesse sent me a couple ads today for lifted suburbans. I guess I did say that I wanted a family car...I could drive a lifted suburban, why not? We probably won't be able to buy a house for a while, but we both like this one:
http://www4.ntreisinnovia.net/ntr/idx/detail.php?mls=11941155&key=971b15f20f3bb8677c886910fa02c090
There are others, but I think that one is my favorite so far. House buying is a ways down the road, though. I have tried to look at apartments, but again, people in Breckenridge don't seem to believe in the internet, so much search has been disappointing.
So for now, I will go back to contemplating how best to climb the tree in the back yard...
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Thursday:"Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you..." Genesis 12:1
Dave and Jesse talked yesterday, and Dave offered enough to make us stay. It's a terrifying prospect, really. To leave everything that we know. I was planning on working for Gail for the rest of my life! But I know that it will be good for us. I can't rely on Gail to make things happen for me forever. I can't rely on my family for my identity forever. Jesse and I are a new family, and honestly, Texas will probably be very good for us and force us to get things figured out alot quicker than we would in Oregon. But it's still scary.
I have thought of Abram alot in this process. Actually, that specific verse has been one of my favorites for a long time. To think of packing up and not even knowing where you are going. To have such crazy faith that you would just start walking across the desert, waiting for God to show you where to go. That is huge. I have always wanted to have faith like that, and when things have gotten cloudy, I have tried to trust that God would show me where to go. And He always has. At least, I have always been somewhere, and I never know where I'm going, so I'm guessing that is what happened.
To be perfectly honest, I don't know if this is what God is showing us, but He isn't showing us anything else right now. I have always believed that if He wants me somewhere, He will make it happen, and if He doesn't, then it won't work out. This seems to be working out pretty well. Of course, it's a big step, and would be really hard to take back, but those are the ones that are worth it.
So now, we will step out in faith.
I have thought of Abram alot in this process. Actually, that specific verse has been one of my favorites for a long time. To think of packing up and not even knowing where you are going. To have such crazy faith that you would just start walking across the desert, waiting for God to show you where to go. That is huge. I have always wanted to have faith like that, and when things have gotten cloudy, I have tried to trust that God would show me where to go. And He always has. At least, I have always been somewhere, and I never know where I'm going, so I'm guessing that is what happened.
To be perfectly honest, I don't know if this is what God is showing us, but He isn't showing us anything else right now. I have always believed that if He wants me somewhere, He will make it happen, and if He doesn't, then it won't work out. This seems to be working out pretty well. Of course, it's a big step, and would be really hard to take back, but those are the ones that are worth it.
So now, we will step out in faith.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Walking
Kent and Tracy told us that in Breckenridge either you have it or you don't. The Oregonians here make up most of the middle class. Well I went for a walk today, and I'm pretty sure I ended up in the part of town where people don't have it. I wanted to go somewhere, so I looked at my map and saw S. Smith street, and decided it would be a decent place to go. It didn't take long for things to get pretty ramshackle, and I started thinking about the crack head who looks like Ryan with two teeth, and then someone honked at me, and I took a detour to avoid some people, and a little yappy dog that looked part Chihuahua and part goodness only knows what followed me for a while...but the older couple sitting on their porch who waved at me seemed nice enough, and I made it home safely. I did, however, miss the turn coming back, and over all I think it turned into about 3 miles. And when I did get back, I was confused because there were two guys mowing the lawn. I suppose that shouldn't surprise me, since there's also a maid that comes and cleans once a week. I feel like we are both going to be surprised whenever she shows up. Note to self: I should really ask someone what day she will be here.
"How can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?"
I went out into the yard this afternoon and danced. It felt so good to dance. All by myself, with the trees and the lizards, and headphones. Again, if the neighbors could see me, they'd probably think I was crazy. But there's something about dancing that fills up a hole that I have somewhere. There isn't alot of space in our little apartment in Oregon City for dancing, and even if there was, I doubt that our downstairs neighbor would appreciate it. I have missed dancing. Not choreographing, not performing, not rehearsing, but just dancing for the sole purpose of movement. With dance I can let go of stress, I can find my emotions, and I am able to stop planning my every step and allow myself to be moved by the music and by my emotions. The song I was dancing to says "how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?" and I dance to it when I feel like I need God to move me, because I don't know where to go. I know it sounds crazy, and I'm getting a little weird on y'all, but bear with me. Honestly, when I have space to dance I feel like I can do anything. I don't mean to sound calloused, and moving here would cause me to miss my family and the people who are close to me so very, very much, but I know that I would be able to make it. God has given me an amazing coping mechanism, and I am so thankful for it. I still have no idea where we are going to end up, but I am relieved by the reassurance that I will be in God's presence anywhere I am, and as long as I am with Him, and I allow myself to be moved by Him, things will be ok.
Am I supposed to get all that out of five minutes of flailing around in the backyard? I don't know, but hey, whatever works, right? Anyway, I don't know if this is really blog worthy...it doesn't do much to give you a picture of our life here in Texas, but it applies to the struggle that we have been having. I don't know if I am closer to an answer...I may actually be further from one, but I am at peace with that.
Am I supposed to get all that out of five minutes of flailing around in the backyard? I don't know, but hey, whatever works, right? Anyway, I don't know if this is really blog worthy...it doesn't do much to give you a picture of our life here in Texas, but it applies to the struggle that we have been having. I don't know if I am closer to an answer...I may actually be further from one, but I am at peace with that.
Wednesday: Hold onto your kilts!
My daily Texas routine was interrupted this morning when I woke up and saw clouds outside my window. I stepped out on the porch to see how warm it was, and heard the thunder, and just couldn't drag myself back inside any longer than to grab a bowl of cereal and my book. Since then I have been sitting on the porch, listening to thunder, and praying that it will rain before Dave gets home so he won't be wandering around in his kilt! Apparently it's some sort of rain ritual. He wears a kilt when it rains. Honestly, a man could have worse habits, so as long as he isn't climbing over anything or doing cartwheels, I guess it's ok.
But Dave or no Dave, kilt or no kilt, I am so excited for the rain! It started to rain on Sunday, but didn't last long. Summer rain is one of my favorite things. I love being able to be outside and soak up the rain without freezing. Of course, at 75 it still feels a little chilly here. I'm glad that the yard is fenced in, because if the neighbors could see me now, laying in the grass in my pajamas, with this dumb smile on my face, they would probably think I'm crazy. Oregonians are a weird bunch of people, y'all. I'm rather tempted to climb up into the tree here in the front yard, but again, I'd rather not taint the reputation of the good people who actually live here.
But enough about the rain, and onto other trivial matters. Last night we caught two tiny lizards! They were barely an inch long, and all pink and blue and green. Very pretty little animals, and super quick. We put them into a Tupperware container hoping they would fight, but they were too skittery. They wouldn't go near each other. So Jesse took a picture and sent it to Nicole, who earlier had been freaked out about finding one in the bathroom at the shop, and we all went to bed. The boys talked about taking them to work and letting them loose in the girls' bathroom, but they were still on the counter when I got up. One of them looked like it had changed color, too, which was strange. It looked much darker and less colorful than it had last night. I don't know if that's a normal thing, or if it was somehow due to sitting on the kitchen counter all night. I took them outside and set them free, since they seem to have lost their novelty.
Also yesterday, I walked to where I thought there should be a dance studio, but there was nothing there. Just a gas station. It was a bit disappointing, I won't lie. But I know that there are at least two in Graham, which is only about 30 miles from here, and they even have websites! I'm not sure how much luck I would have getting into dance right away in Texas...most of the teachers that I have found bios for have been Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, or Rockettes, or Miss Something Southerny. I watched a few videos of dance teams, and it took me almost an hour to find anything that looked familiar to me. There are people who do lyrical here, so that is something. I would feel inadequate, though, trying to teach lyrical in a place where everyone does pom and kick and drill and prop and who knows what all else. On one dance team they announced the director, the officers, the captains, and the lieutenants. Granted, they had 50-60 girls on the team at least, but my goodness! How many heads do you need on the totem pole? Coaches, captains, everyone else. I'm happy with that arrangement. Well, I guess it would just be something to get used to.
I'm thinking about making some peanut butter cookies...I know Jesse doesn't like them, but they're the only kind that I actually have all the ingredients for, and it's actually cool enough that I won't feel ridiculous baking things. I was going to make a pumpkin pie, but I don't have any condensed milk...
But Dave or no Dave, kilt or no kilt, I am so excited for the rain! It started to rain on Sunday, but didn't last long. Summer rain is one of my favorite things. I love being able to be outside and soak up the rain without freezing. Of course, at 75 it still feels a little chilly here. I'm glad that the yard is fenced in, because if the neighbors could see me now, laying in the grass in my pajamas, with this dumb smile on my face, they would probably think I'm crazy. Oregonians are a weird bunch of people, y'all. I'm rather tempted to climb up into the tree here in the front yard, but again, I'd rather not taint the reputation of the good people who actually live here.
But enough about the rain, and onto other trivial matters. Last night we caught two tiny lizards! They were barely an inch long, and all pink and blue and green. Very pretty little animals, and super quick. We put them into a Tupperware container hoping they would fight, but they were too skittery. They wouldn't go near each other. So Jesse took a picture and sent it to Nicole, who earlier had been freaked out about finding one in the bathroom at the shop, and we all went to bed. The boys talked about taking them to work and letting them loose in the girls' bathroom, but they were still on the counter when I got up. One of them looked like it had changed color, too, which was strange. It looked much darker and less colorful than it had last night. I don't know if that's a normal thing, or if it was somehow due to sitting on the kitchen counter all night. I took them outside and set them free, since they seem to have lost their novelty.
Also yesterday, I walked to where I thought there should be a dance studio, but there was nothing there. Just a gas station. It was a bit disappointing, I won't lie. But I know that there are at least two in Graham, which is only about 30 miles from here, and they even have websites! I'm not sure how much luck I would have getting into dance right away in Texas...most of the teachers that I have found bios for have been Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, or Rockettes, or Miss Something Southerny. I watched a few videos of dance teams, and it took me almost an hour to find anything that looked familiar to me. There are people who do lyrical here, so that is something. I would feel inadequate, though, trying to teach lyrical in a place where everyone does pom and kick and drill and prop and who knows what all else. On one dance team they announced the director, the officers, the captains, and the lieutenants. Granted, they had 50-60 girls on the team at least, but my goodness! How many heads do you need on the totem pole? Coaches, captains, everyone else. I'm happy with that arrangement. Well, I guess it would just be something to get used to.
I'm thinking about making some peanut butter cookies...I know Jesse doesn't like them, but they're the only kind that I actually have all the ingredients for, and it's actually cool enough that I won't feel ridiculous baking things. I was going to make a pumpkin pie, but I don't have any condensed milk...
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Tuesday: "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that" James 4:15
I married Jesse Smith, the love of my life, and the most wonderful man I know, 17 days ago. Three months ago the company he worked for in Canby, OR (they build big, fancy, expensive rifles) began opening another shop in Texas. About a month ago, after alot of back and forth, maybe you should move, maybe you shouldn't, we're going, we're staying, nobody knows! he unofficially turned down the unofficial offer to move to Texas and be a part of the enterprise. The day after we got back from our honeymoon, they handed him a rifle and his last check. A few days later they called him and asked him to come to Texas for two weeks to help with training. "Bring the wife!" they said. Three days ago we got on a plane at 6 am in Portland, and were picked up in the company car at the Abilene airport at nearly 5 pm. From there we drove to Breckenridge, a little Podunk town sporting a drive-through beer barn, which is the new home of Bold Ideas Texas and a handful of adventurous Oregonians.
As we drove across the great expanse that is only a part of the lone star state, tired and stiff, I thought from the backseat "wow. I could live here." I had to tell myself that the offer was off the table, to stop day dreaming, and remember that I am only here for a week; I have a job and a dance team to get back to that I have already taken too much time away from. But regardless of all those things, I couldn't help admiring the desolate beauty of the wind turbines and the cacti, to say nothing of the big blue sky. We pulled into town, rather bigger than I expected, and eventually found ourselves in the company's sprawling house that we are sharing with Dave and the two Davis brothers, and Nicole, when she gets hungry. It was a little awkward at first, all of us sitting silently around the living room playing games or craigslisting rental houses and cheap boats on our phones, but since that first evening, I have come to appreciate the strange little family that we have. As the only non-Breckenridge-natives, we must stick together, after all. There's nothing else to do, especially when you don't have a car.
But I digress. The next day, Sunday, we spent most of the day on a 2000-acre ranch owned by Kent, the local supervisor, shooting things and driving around the property in his club car. Southern hospitality began to show when he announced that we were all family, asked us to just lock everything up when we left, and let him know later how many people were coming over to swim, because he was going to make burgers. We took him at his word, and spent the next few hours working up an appetite by driving around looking for jack rabbits or hogs or anything else the boys could shoot. Jesse shot a rabbit three times before it went down, and Ryan emptied his magazine into a group of hogs, but let everyone down when they all got way. The escapade ended when we punched holes in two of the tires on the club car, but fix-a-flat works wonders! We stopped at WalMart to buy a swimsuit, went home, showered, and walked over in the rain to Kent's shortly after, most carrying a 6-pack of their preferred beer.
We spent the rest of our evening swimming in the heated salt water pool and eating. Wow, Texans can eat! We started out with chips and dip because the ribs, which were the appetizers, weren't quite ready yet, and later moved on the giant cheeseburgers and more chips. Our host, who is sixth generation Breckenridge, told stories about dove season, when groups will gather 300 birds in the first hour of hunting, and the local cops. He shared disconcerting accounts of "unsolved suicides", and advised that if any of us gets pulled over for drunk driving, to tell the cop "I'm from out of town, will you follow me home?" Nicole is engaged, and Kent's girlfriend Tracy offered their backyard for the wedding and told stories about their friend, a judge, who could perform the ceremony. They further displayed their hospitality by telling everyone that they will be out of town this weekend, but Matt has a key to everything on the ranch, and knows how to get in the back to use the pool and hot tub.
Of course, after that the work week started and has been less adventurous for me, but still an enjoyable time. I have spent most of my days reading and writing thank you cards from the wedding. I have also spent hours trying to learn about local dance teams and studios, but I am convinced that no one in Texas has a website, and it has been tedious work. It is nice to have everyone come home and tell work stories, past and present. We all made and ate dinner together last night, and the shop is close enough that the boys came home and brought calzones for lunch, though they were only able to stay five minutes or so.
And that brings you up to date on our Texas adventure. I sit here in a recliner, tired of reading and short on ingredients for cookies, waiting for the gang to get off work.
Yesterday they told Jesse that at the end of the trip they want to sit down and talk money. We are facing a bit of a conundrum, here. Our families and my job are in Oregon, but it is hard to turn down an opportunity like the one that could possibly be coming our way! Currently, our Texas adventure could end in a week and a half, or it could last the rest of our lives, which serves to make it that much more exciting, and in my mind, well worth chronicling! It may not be terribly interesting to anyone else, but I at least will be amused to look back one day and remember our first (if not only) few days in Breckenridge.
As we drove across the great expanse that is only a part of the lone star state, tired and stiff, I thought from the backseat "wow. I could live here." I had to tell myself that the offer was off the table, to stop day dreaming, and remember that I am only here for a week; I have a job and a dance team to get back to that I have already taken too much time away from. But regardless of all those things, I couldn't help admiring the desolate beauty of the wind turbines and the cacti, to say nothing of the big blue sky. We pulled into town, rather bigger than I expected, and eventually found ourselves in the company's sprawling house that we are sharing with Dave and the two Davis brothers, and Nicole, when she gets hungry. It was a little awkward at first, all of us sitting silently around the living room playing games or craigslisting rental houses and cheap boats on our phones, but since that first evening, I have come to appreciate the strange little family that we have. As the only non-Breckenridge-natives, we must stick together, after all. There's nothing else to do, especially when you don't have a car.
But I digress. The next day, Sunday, we spent most of the day on a 2000-acre ranch owned by Kent, the local supervisor, shooting things and driving around the property in his club car. Southern hospitality began to show when he announced that we were all family, asked us to just lock everything up when we left, and let him know later how many people were coming over to swim, because he was going to make burgers. We took him at his word, and spent the next few hours working up an appetite by driving around looking for jack rabbits or hogs or anything else the boys could shoot. Jesse shot a rabbit three times before it went down, and Ryan emptied his magazine into a group of hogs, but let everyone down when they all got way. The escapade ended when we punched holes in two of the tires on the club car, but fix-a-flat works wonders! We stopped at WalMart to buy a swimsuit, went home, showered, and walked over in the rain to Kent's shortly after, most carrying a 6-pack of their preferred beer.
We spent the rest of our evening swimming in the heated salt water pool and eating. Wow, Texans can eat! We started out with chips and dip because the ribs, which were the appetizers, weren't quite ready yet, and later moved on the giant cheeseburgers and more chips. Our host, who is sixth generation Breckenridge, told stories about dove season, when groups will gather 300 birds in the first hour of hunting, and the local cops. He shared disconcerting accounts of "unsolved suicides", and advised that if any of us gets pulled over for drunk driving, to tell the cop "I'm from out of town, will you follow me home?" Nicole is engaged, and Kent's girlfriend Tracy offered their backyard for the wedding and told stories about their friend, a judge, who could perform the ceremony. They further displayed their hospitality by telling everyone that they will be out of town this weekend, but Matt has a key to everything on the ranch, and knows how to get in the back to use the pool and hot tub.
Of course, after that the work week started and has been less adventurous for me, but still an enjoyable time. I have spent most of my days reading and writing thank you cards from the wedding. I have also spent hours trying to learn about local dance teams and studios, but I am convinced that no one in Texas has a website, and it has been tedious work. It is nice to have everyone come home and tell work stories, past and present. We all made and ate dinner together last night, and the shop is close enough that the boys came home and brought calzones for lunch, though they were only able to stay five minutes or so.
And that brings you up to date on our Texas adventure. I sit here in a recliner, tired of reading and short on ingredients for cookies, waiting for the gang to get off work.
Yesterday they told Jesse that at the end of the trip they want to sit down and talk money. We are facing a bit of a conundrum, here. Our families and my job are in Oregon, but it is hard to turn down an opportunity like the one that could possibly be coming our way! Currently, our Texas adventure could end in a week and a half, or it could last the rest of our lives, which serves to make it that much more exciting, and in my mind, well worth chronicling! It may not be terribly interesting to anyone else, but I at least will be amused to look back one day and remember our first (if not only) few days in Breckenridge.
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