Where have I been?

I have not done a great job on keeping up with this once my family got here!  But I don't want to let my blog die.  So, here I am again.

Griff and I went for a ride yesterday, we needed to get out of the house for a while.  We ended up at Port Clinton and saw that Lake Erie is mostly frozen - at least the part that we could see.  Kind of amazing that something as big as Lake Erie can freeze.  Now that is cold!!  Griff just kept saying how he coudn't believe it was frozen.  It is hard to believe how cold it has to be and for how long to freeze a lake, especially one as big as a great lake. 

Christmas was good yesterday.  We had lots of good presents.  We ate too much and both felt miserable afterwards. 

Long break

Sorry for the long silence but I have been very busy.  I moved my husband and fur children to Ohio, settled into the new house, and got an offer on my house in Tulsa.  Whew, no wonder I've been tired!

We are getting acclimated to life in a small town.  We went to the Halloween parade here and it was too cute.  There were the cutest costumes in the parade, my fave being triplets dressed up as the 3 little pigs.  I had no idea there were so many twirling schools in the area though.  The parade went something like cute kids...twirlers...cute kids....band....twirlers...cute kids....twirlers....etc.  I'll post pictures later. 

Lots of details and no control over any of them.

Those that know me know that I have control issues.  I like to understand what is going on and how I can influence or impact those things.  It seems to me that the buyer has very little control after the offer is negotiated when buying a house.  You are now in the hands of mortgage companies, realtors, utility companies, moving companies and title companies.  And what is a title company, anyway??  So, now I close on my house on Friday and I have no idea what time or how much money I need to take with me.  I suppose those are only minor details!

This will be the first time in over 20 years that I have lived in a small town and it changes some things.  I called the utility company to find out what I needed to do to get my utilities hooked up.  I was getting nervous since I had not been able to get in touch with anyone and wasn't sure if they could get them turned on in time.  So, no worries.  As long as I get to the municipal office before 2 pm they will have my utilities turned on before the end of that day.  That made me laugh.  Wouldn't happen in a large city!!

Drinking coffee

I came back to Tulsa for Labor Day weekend and have OD'd on coffee on the couch with my puppies.  There is something so simple and soothing about that.  The house is quiet, no TV, radio, or other noise.  I can sit on the couch and surf the net to catch up on the things that interest me and read.  It is my favorite way to start the day. 

I can't wait!

Everyday when I get off work I drive by my new house.  I can't wait until we close!  The more I see the house, the more I love it! 

Training

I went to training this week.  There are many observations I can make about it.  First, it was held in the corporate training center.  It was a very nice facility - a private hotel and conference center owned by our company.  It made me giggle just walking in because, if you had any doubts, this is confirmation that I work for a BIG company.  It was my first time at this facility and I just kept marveling all week.  I mean - private hotel, state of the art conference center, executive chefs on site, etc, etc. 

My second thought was....oh my gosh, don't let my dad find out about this.  He will never get over this example of corporate excess!    I laughed about that all week too. 

My third thought about my training was - this stuff I am trying to learn is HARD!  I was in a class that was all about the use of statistical tools to drive continuous improvement.  I took stat in college and actually loved the class.  But I struggled with this class.  I was in the class with all engineers and it seemed very easy to them.  Not so much to me.  I struggled and struggled.  It took the better part of two days for me to even get to the point that I didn't want to cry.  It was a tough week to get thru but I made it.  Now I have to go back to work and use the tools and come back in a month and share my results.

Dogs

Dogs make me happy.  I don't know why.  But anytime I see a dog, any kind of dog, I smile.  They just seem to be so happy all the time.  They are simple creatures, feed them, give them a little attention and they are just estatic to be around you.  How can that not make you smile??  Nothing philosophical to say about that, just an observation.

I bought a house!

Griff found the house on the internet and sent me the link.  So I drove by it and liked the outside.  I checked it out on the internet again and saw that it was scheduled for an open house that week.  So, I went to the open house on Thursday.  On Friday morning I made an offer.  It took all day Friday to come to an agreement but by the end of the day I had an agreement to buy a house!!

Griff is excited because he found it and there is NOTHING that needs to be done before or after we move in except decorate.  Unlike our current house that I found and needed lots of work. 

The view from the driveway.

I love this house, it is over 150 years old.  Lots of character.  It is 4 bedroom so there is room for a guest bedroom, an office for Griff and a craft room for me!  I am so excited!  See all the pictures below. 

The fireplace in the formal living room. 

I foresee many hours on this porch reading and drinking coffee.

Formal Living room.  The floors are the original hardwood restored and beautiful!

This is the dining room and the outside door goes to the porch pictured above.

The kitchen has granite tile countertops, custom built oak cabinets, all new stainless steel appliances, tile floor, and one exposed brick wall. 

Lawn Decoration

I love this beach town I am staying in.  Only in a beach town is it acceptable to decorate your lawn with armed flamingos and targets for them to practice their skills on.  I drove by this house on Thursday evening and cracked up when I saw this. 

The decorations are even better because they are on the street that probably has the most expensive houses in town.  It is the beach front street in town.  And right in the middle of it are these birds.  Too priceless!!

Don't mess with the birds in this town!  I guess this will be added to my list of weird encounters with birds since I moved here.  They are fake but they are fake birds so I rule that they get included. 

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday!!

Today is my sister's birthday.  Happy Birthday Beth!!  I have big plans in honor of your day, you know... laundry, grocery shopping, all those really fun things.

I worked all day yesterday.  5:15 AM - 1:15 PM.  Early mornings are not my favorite.  I came back to the hotel when I got off, took a shower and slept for 2 hours.  We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for 400 people.  It was good to do but exhausting.  Our employees like it, enjoyed the food. 

I hope this coming week is better than last week.  Last week was a very challenging one for me.  And people kept telling me that I talked to them about things that I absolutely did not remember talking about.  Maybe stress or I am losing my mind!  Or the stress is causing me to lose my mind.

Exhausted

The last 2 days have been exhausting.  I hate drama with those I love.  I hate arguing.  I hate crying.  I hate feeling as if I can't talk to loved ones. 

Tonight I plan to go to bed early.  Tomorrow has got to be better than the last two days.  Please!!

Families are Hard

So, this morning I got mad enough at a member of my family that I hung up on them.  If you are a member of my family and are picking up the phone to call me and see what I am talking about, DON'T, I'm not going to tell you about it.  What happened to make me mad is not important.  What happened next is the important part.  I took some time to calm down, calmed down, called the person back and talked through the issue. 

Families, whether by birth, marriage or choice, are hard.  Families are messy. Families are all in your business, whether you want them there or not.  One thing families are not is optional!  It is not an option to give up on a family member - at least not in my world.  They make you mad, you get over it and call them back. 

I've known a lot of people that aren't close to their family and I have never understood it.  My siblings have been a constant in every stage of my life.  I speak to them and see them as often as I can.  Families are our shared history.  When we talk about having a weinie roast and seeing if Beth will sing 'Neighbors', my siblings and I laugh because we have that shared history.  When my friends from high school post, 'It's 11:11" on Facebook, we all laugh because we understand, 30 years later, what it means. 

I am not always the best wife, daughter, mother, sister, or friend that I can be.  But I never stop trying to do better.  Do you?

Don't you hate it when....

Yesterday driving home I thought of a great topic to blog about but I cannot remember what it was today.  I hate that.  I had it all worked out in my head but it is gone today.

I find that happening to me more and more.  I am no longer the young cute one in the room.  My hair is turning gray faster than you can imagine, my face is more and more wrinkled, my skin is drier now.  And I think I may have passed the point when I can say that I only need glasses for reading.  It is funny how aging affects your body.

But I am more confident in myself now.  I am less concerned about what people think of me.  I am more assured in the decisions I make and more confident in the outcomes of those decisions.  I take more pleasure in the little things and don't wait for the "grand gesture".  I tell people what I think more and take every opportunity to tell those I love how much they mean to me. 

So my body is showing the negative effects of aging but my mind and personality are showing the positive effects of aging.  Kind of ironic, don't you think.   Now if I can just remember all the wisdom I have gained growing up, life will be perfect.

Less than 24 hours!!

We are in countdown to my arrival in Tulsa to see the hubby, pups and friends!  I can't wait!!

Home!

I'm heading home for the 4th of July holiday this weekend.  I can't wait to see my hubby, puppies and all my friends.  I already have a lunch and pedicure date and a evening cookout with friends planned.  I'm only home for two days so I'm not sure how much more I can pack in.  I'm ready to be back with my family.  I miss them terribly! 

Not much to report today, I've been feeling yucky lately.  I worked at eating better today hoping that would help some.  I also drank LOTS of water.  We'll see if that does anything.  But say a quick prayer for me to feel better.  I would appreciate it. 

Questions I ask

Well, I did not make it to the beach today.  The weather turned ugly after the laundry was done.  So I went to the mall instead.  Believe it or not, I didn't buy anything other than a iced frappe from Coffee Beanery.  But I found myself asking all sorts of questions while there.  You will understand after you see these questions that I did not actually verbalize the asking.
1.  Young girls, why do you come to the mall in your pajamas with no bra on?  Especially since you are here with young boys.  Is this really the way you want males to view you?  Aim higher than being viewed as a piece of....well let's call it 'meat'.
2. Really, young man?? You looked in your dresser and thought, yes - the t-shirt that has the entire sides cut out, that's the one that I will wear to the mall?  That shirt might be appropriate when playing baseball but not at the mall.  I do not want to see that much of you!
3.  Why do people wear flip flops where their toes hang off the ends?  Buy a bigger size!  Aren't shoes supposed to protect your feet from the ground? It's just weird to see your toes hanging off the ends.
4.  Why do women that do not take care of their feet wear flip flops?  I love flip flops and all things summer.  But I understand that it is my duty to society to make sure that I have cute feet and well manicured toes before wearing them! 
5. Why do men wear sandals?  Gross!!  Just say no!
6. Why do people let their children yell at the top of their lungs in public?  Park - yes.  Mall - no!  I love kids but I don't want to have them screaming while I am shopping.
7. Why do parents scream at their children?  And no, they were not the parents of the children that were screaming.  It doesn't serve to make them act better and it makes you look stupid and mean. 

All and all I had a great visit to the mall but it left me pondering.  And yes I know, these questions show that I am no longer someone your mother warned you about, I am your mother!  Now pull up your pants, button your shirt, comb your hair and go to the mall! 

Common dilemma

Here's my dilemma - work or play?  Today I really need to go do laundry but I really want to go to the beach.  So, what't a girl to do? My understanding is that we don't have too many months of pretty weather but I can't wear dirty clothes to work next week.  If I would get up and get going I could probably do both.  The best of both worlds!

I've been bummed this week.  I think that I've had enough of hotel living and it is beginning to wear on me.  I need my husband and dogs here.  I need to have all the love waiting for me when I get home each evening!  Time to quit being so picky and find a house.

The Duck is Car Trained!

In an earlier post I talked about a man that has a duck as a pet here in my adopted town.  Everyday as I pass the duck's hangout, I look for the duck.  Yesterday, I saw him, I am assuming it is a him.  He was in the passenger's side of a truck with his head out of the window.  As I passed, the truck pulled out of the driveway and went down the street.  The duck's head was out the passenger window the whole time!  I have got to meet this man, not only does he have a duck for a pet but he has car trained him! How awesome is that!!  I laughed about it all the way to my hotel.

Now that I think about it, maybe the duck is a female - otherwise he would want to drive! 

Put in Bay

Today we went to the the islands of Lake Erie.  We chose to ride a very large boat over there.  According to the locals, Put In Bay is known as the Key West of the North Coast.  It seemed pretty tame to me but it was a Sunday afternoon when we were there. 

On the way back, we saw this awesome boat at full mast.  They described it as the USS Niagara and said it was on the site of the surrender of the Royal Navy during the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812.  It was pretty to see it. 

I did a little research when we got back and this is the battle that led to the famous quote, "We have met the enemy and they are ours.'  That was written by Commodore Perry following the battle. 

Visit this website for more info.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lake_Erie

What's your life about?

There is a phenomenon here close to Lake Erie that is as fascinating as it is gross.  Every year, if Lake Erie is healthy, there is an invasion of mayflies.  They swarm the area and look really gross.  Check out this website for more scientific facts about them.  http://www.mayflynews.net/ 

The non-scientific facts about them are this:
1.  They can completely cover your car if you park under a light - I learned this from experience
2.  They live a very short time - I've seen estimates from 30 minutes to 72 hours
3.  When they die, they smell like dead fish
4.  They have no mouths and seem to exist for the sole purpose of reproducing.

In that respect they are very lucky.  They are designed to fulfill their one purpose in life. They have no mouths, some species have multiple genatalia - they are truly designed to complete this one purpose.  They have up to two years beneath the surface of the lake to prepare for the completion of their purpose once they emerge from the water.

Our purpose in life is not so clearly defined.  Is it to reproduce?  Is our one mission in life to procreate and raise offspring?  If not reproduction, what is it?  My thoughts are that our purpose is up to each of us to define.  I would have told you 20 years ago that my purpose was to be a mom.  God had other plans for me and I was unable to have children.  So I had to rethink what my purpose was.

I'm still trying to figure out what my purpose is but I think it has something to do with making a positive impact on as many people as I can while I am here on earth.  I think about the people that I love and those that I come into contact with every day.  There is cross over between those two groups which is always a good thing!  In the evening I often reflect upon the day's events and ask myself if I made a difference in someone's life that day.  It could be something small - did I brighten their day by making them laugh.  It could be something big - did I help them through a rough spot in their life in some manner.  The days that bring me the most satisfaction are those that I can feel as if I helped someone in some way, no matter how small. 

What's your purpose and are you achieving it?

Summer Time

Summer on the North Coast is vastly different than summer where I have spent most of life.  It was incredibly hot in Texas and Georgia where I have spent the majority of my life.  Oklahoma was not quite as warm but was lots warmer than it is here.  Here people talk about how hot it is when it is 80 degrees.  I laugh every time I hear that!  I am accustomed to 80 degrees being a nice day and people are glad that it is not hot.  Funny how your life experiences mold your perceptions of things. 

The days here are now in the 70s or 80s with an occasional peak in the 90s. The nights get down to the 50s.  I think it is heavenly but I find that I miss the heat.  I spent some time on the beach last weekend and it was disconcerting that I never felt hot.  I felt warm and the sun felt wonderful on my skin but I never had that, "oh my gosh, I'm melting" feeling you get in the summer on the beach in Texas. 

I found myself thinking last week that I couldn't wait for summer to get here and feel the heat.  Then I realized that this is the heat here!  I often wear sweaters to work, even in June.  Now I know who those people are that buy the sweaters in stores and catalogs in June and July.  I have wondered all my life, one of the mysteries of my life answered.

Strange

Laundramats are weird...where else do you display your underwear to total strangers?  I told my husband that and he said, that's what all the young girls are doing now.  Made me think two things...1) Boy am I glad that I'm not that young and 2) How does he know that.

So I went to do my laundry again today and the laundramat was crowded.  There was one particularly obnoxious woman that was guarding dryers to use when her clothes finished washing.  Her clothes weren't even finished and she had staked out the only three dryers available in the place - and I mean physically staked them out.  She was standing in front of two and had her arm extended blocking the other.  I wanted to tell her to get out of the way.  But, being that I now live and work in two very small towns and you never know who works there as well I was quiet.  I thought of a lot of things to say to her, but that is all that I did.
Made me wonder how someone is so inconsiderate and thinks so highly of themselves that they are that rude.  A question for the ages. 

The only good thing about going to the laundramat is that all your laundry is done in about an hour.  I like that aspect. 

Big City vs Small Town

You get used to certain things when you live in a nice size town - and by nice I mean close to a million people.  You get used to being able to find your favorite skinny latte with chocolate sprinkles at your choice of Starbucks, being able to find good mexican food, being able to decide on a whim that you need a pedicure in a salon that has a good massaging chair.  So far, my foray into the North Coast has been lacking in all of those things.  There is a cute coffee shop here, but no Starbucks in sight.  There is a mexican food restaurant but the guacamole or as I like to call it, manna from heaven, is not the best.  There is a place to get my nails done but no massaging chair.  I miss these things.  I know that I will get used to not having access to these things but it may take a while. 

On the other hand, one of the girls that I work with grew up here and ran into the manager of the hotel I am staying in.  She told him that someone in her department was staying here and he told her my name and described me.  So a small town has its benefits as well.  I'll just have to get used to the other things and treat myself occassionally. 

Trying to sleep

My room is right above the hotel bar.  I have learned how to work around this and still get decent sleep.  But last night I was very annoyed with the person staying in the room next to mine, a room that has previously been unoccupied.  Last night, the person in there was very noisy, playing the tv loud, banging around and slamming their door at 2 AM.  And then this morning they hit the wall between our rooms hard enough that the cup of coffee on my dresser jumped.  So when I left this morning I asked the desk clerk if the person in that room was a long term stay or just a few nights.  He didn't know so he looked it up and guess what???  There wasn't anyone staying in that room...but he was kind enough to tell me that the hotel is haunted.  I guess the ghost was unhappy last night.  I can only hope that it is not as stirred up tonight.  We shall see.  Stay tuned for more details...

Laundry day

I am going to find the local laundrymat today and do my laundry.  Laundry is my least favorite thing to do as far as household chores go.  But there is some satisfaction to doing your laundry in one fell swoop at the laundrymat.  1 hour and the clothes are done!! 

Birds!

Birds freak me out.  They have beady eyes and freaky little legs.  I shudder just thinking about them.  But I have observed interesting things involving birds here on the North Coast.  First of all, there are gulls here in the town I am staying in.   Some of them roost on the roof of the hotel and I fall asleep to their cries, at least on the nights that the bar downstairs isn't rocking!  Their cry is sad but nice.  It makes me think of happy times spent on various beaches with family and friends. 

Second, there is a man here who appears to have a pet duck.  Now, I don't understand that but I am fascinated by the type of person that would consider a duck a pet.  I believe the duck is a pet because the first week I was here while Griff was still with me we saw this man open the door to his workshop, from the inside, and the duck came out.  While the man worked in his shop, the duck grazed (is that the right word when you are speaking of ducks) in the yard by the shop.  I've seen the duck one time since also when the door to the shop was open and you could see the man working in there.  I was talking to my friend Jerry this week about the oddness of having a duck as a pet and he tells me that he's had two ducks as pets.  This explains a lot about Jerry to me.  As I said earlier I am freaked out by birds but I really want to meet this man that has the pet duck because you know he has got to be an interesting character that looks at the world a little differently than most.  I may just have to stop and introduce myself.

The last encounter I have had with a bird while I have been here is when a pheasant ran into the road I was driving on and nearly caused me to hit it.  I only knew it was a pheasant because my brother-in-law is a hunter and shot one once that he had mounted and it hangs in his living room.  They are weird looking birds.  But I am driving along minding my own business talking to Griff on the phone as I ended my work day and I see something running out on the road as I approach.  Now you would think that something the size of a pheasant would stop if it saw something the size of a Jeep approaching but nooooo.  This stinking bird just kept crossing the road as bold as can be until I slammed on my brakes and got out of its way.  It finally stopped about two feet from my door and just looked at me as if I was in its way.  Which I guess I was because in its mind the road should not have been there.  But seriously!!!  Dang bird!!

I'm back

Sorry for the hiatus.  I was getting used to getting up at 5 AM again.  Amazing how quickly you forget about the impact to your body and life of that habit. 

So have you ever pondered on first impressions and the accuracy, or lack thereof, of them?  Starting a new job I am inundated with first impressions.  Only time will tell if they have any accuracy but it made me ponder.  One always likes to think that their first impressions are always proven to be dead on but I can't say that.  I have found my impressions to be inaccurate in the past.  Sometimes that is a good thing and sometimes it is not. 

So, on a different topic, my least favorite thing about my new job is that I cannot wear my jeans and tennis shoes anymore.  I don't mind the pants but my feet sure do miss the comfy tennis shoes.  They are very sad. 

Where I work is HUGE!!!  Today on the way back from a meeting I took a wrong turn and "explored" a new area that I had never seen.  I eventually found my way back to my office but it was touch and go for a while.  I was deteremined not to ask for directions so I just had to keep moving until I saw something I recognized.  I've asked for a map of the plant, not that it will help since I am not great at reading maps.  But at least I can study it to try to get some bearing for where things are.  I asked for bread crumbs to be issued to me so I can find my way around but they acted like they thought I was kidding.  So, I acted like I was. 

Cheers!!

Woo Hoo

I'm pretty sure I showed more of myself to the town than I needed to...I was walking on the street and the wind was blowing REALLY hard today.  So, the wind kicked up the end of my shirt and, at a minimum, exposed my tummy.  However it may have shown all the way to my bra - thank goodness I am wearing a good one!  Now that is some wind!!

I found a kick ass bead store in town today.  Hung out in there for a while talking to the woman that owns it.  It was amazing.  Also found a great place to get my nails done - the lady in there even stayed open late to do mine.  I LOVE this town!!

Recharging

So, I really like to talk...anyone that knows me is hooting with laughter because they view that as an enormous understatement.  But, since my husband left to go back to finish up our business in our hometown, I have not talked near as much as I normally do.  I've talked to my sisters every day and I have talked to my husband every day.  But usually I am talking all day every day.  The funny thing is that it has not bothered me not to talk.  I have done some great people watching; out my hotel window, out the restaurant window, and sitting in the mall.  And I have smiled a lot because I think people are about the most interesting and fascinating creatures there are.  But I have not been bothered by not talking as much as I normally do. 

I've also not watched TV.  I've read two books in two days, knitted some stuff, learned a new knitting stitch by watching YouTube - you can find almost anything on there, and done a little shopping.  But minimal talking and even less TV.  And I am OK with both of those things.  I think I needed time to recharge my batteries.  And really is there anything that fascinating on TV??  The people I have watched have been far more entertaining and enlightening and uplifting than anything I find on TV.  

Tonight I watched a little girl, probably around 6, play frisbee with a dog that was as big as she was.  The dog was tireless, as they often are, and chased the frisbee over and over again.  The girl could only throw the frisbee about 6 feet but the dog didn't care.  His face and demeanor said 6 feet was as good as 60 feet.  I think there is something to learn in that.  Find something that makes you happy and celebrate it, no matter how big or small it is.  Let out your inner dog!!

What accent??

So today I walked around this quaint town.  I found the post office where I sent off letters and met three of the nicest people.  With one of them I talked about being an aunt to cute baby girls.  She is babysitting her niece for the week.  With the other two, I talked about what brought me to this town. 

I then went to the local coffee shop, right across from the post office, as did the aunt and her niece.  At the coffee shop, she and the two people working in there asked me where I was from.  Seems like I don't sound like people from around here!  I sat outside at the coffee shop for a couple of hours enjoying the coffee, my book and the excellent sunshine.  I think I might have gotten my first North Coast sunburn - just a touch on my arms, nothing too serious!

Then I walked to the marina and watched the charter fishing boats come in for the afternoon.  Lots of fish were brought in by the patrons.  It's funny how the sounds around the water are the same everywhere - the lapping of the water, the cry of the gulls, and the motor sounds from the boats.  Did I tell you that this town has a drawbridge?  I think that is just too cool.  I'm not sure why but it seems cool to me.

I finished my trek around the town off at the local Mexican restaurant. The food was not TexMex but it was pretty darn good.  And once again, I was asked by the waitress where I was from.  This accent of mine seems to be a pretty good conversation starter.  So, Hi y'all!!

Why blog?

So, I was raised in Texas and have spent the majority of my life in the south. I love all things southern; the word y'all, sunshine, magnolia trees, and hot days and nights. However, life has taken me to Ohio and I am settling in for my first week here. I have heard all my life that people in the North are not as friendly and I am pleased to say that I have not found that to be the case. I have met some very friendly people in the few days that I have been here. But things are different. I thought it might be interesting to keep track of what I learn being a transplanted Southerner.