Work widow

You hear about those women that call themselves "hunting widows," "football widows," " 'any sport' widows," etc. Well, I think I am a work widow.

In addition to Josh working all week, usually til 6 or later, he is doing some lots of side work and is gone most Saturdays all day. Now, I'm not really complaining because he IS supporting my unemployed behind that no one wants to hire (It's been over three months already!!). So, I am very thankful for that and that he can get the extra work. But, when I sit at home all week by myself as it is, Saturdays without him are extra lonely. And it's really sad that the days all seem to just be rolling into one another. Thank goodness for the calendar and my favorite TV shows or I wouldn't know what day it was! How sad is it that my weeks revolve around television shows? This is how pathetic I have become!

I have some ideas in the works to start my own business, but I am trying to work out the logistics, and thankfully that is occupying my time quite well.

I really shouldn't complain about not seeing him much, because work-work will slow down, his side work will slow down, and then we'll have evenings and all weekend to be together and I'll be asking when he's going to get busy again! Ha! Just kidding Josh! Kinda. :)

Sausage

A whole lotta sausage! The weekend before Christmas Josh shot a couple deer and took the meat to a place in Schulenburg to get it processed. We got the call on Monday that it was ready. The question is were we ready for all the meat?

I went to pick it up yesterday. There were 110 links of sausage and 50 something pounds of pan sausage. I packed it all into the freezer when I got home!

I think we'll be set for meat for awhile!!

I own my truck!!

Today at lunch, Josh and I went to the bank to pay off my truck!!!!! So, technically, WE own my truck now!

We have been doing the Dave Ramsey plan for almost a year now and this was one debt we were both really striving to get paid off. We were on track to have it paid off in October or November, but that pesky little lay off in October completely derailed those plans. So, we got it paid off about 15 months ahead of time! Oh yeah!!

2010 is slowly starting out really well!!


The 2009 Christmas recap will resume shortly. Yes, I am a slacker!

2010

Happy New Year!!!

I can't believe that the new year is here already! It just doesn't seem possible! I am seriously hoping that 2010 will be much kinder to us than 2009 was. I don't know if I can handle another year like that!

We really didn't do anything special for New Year's Eve. Josh had to work til noon and then we went out and ran errands. We rented some movies, watched those, and stayed up for midnight at the Tower in San Antonio, then went to bed. We are old. Very old. At least we made it to midnight! I don't think I can say the same for last year.

On New Year's Eve, I spent some time thinking about where I had spent past NYEs:

1999: I was dating Matt, my ex, at the time and he and his sister had a party at their house which was out in the country. A few friends came out and we had a lot of fun! I can remember it like it was yesterday! This was also when everyone was freaking out about Y2K and the world or something blowing up at the stroke of midnight. My mom made me come home before midnight just in case something happened. Of course, nothing did. I really didn't like her that much for making leave early for nothing!

2000: I'm pretty sure it was with Matt again and some friends of ours. We were in the truck on the way (late) to a party when midnight came and went.

2001: I had started dating a guy named Josh earlier that year, who lived in Ft. Worth. My mom and I went to Ft. Worth for New Year's and his brother, he, and I went to Billy Bob's where we rang in the new year.

2002: Same Josh as above and I, along with my friend Laura, and her boyfriend (now husband) Jason went to New Orleans for New Year's Eve. What the heck my parents were thinking letting me go, I have NO idea! I wasn't even 21 at the time! We had a blast that trip! Lots of time on Bourbon St. and plenty of beads generously given to us, not earned! If Bourbon St. was as crazy as it was that night, I would NOT want to be there for Mardi Gras. I can only imagine the insanity then! We decided to leave Bourbon St. before midnight and make our way back to the hotel which was quite a distance from Bourbon St. We had had to take a bus down there and one back. But you are talking about kids who don't normally use public transportation and had consumed some drinks! We could not figure out which bus to get us back to where we needed to be!! Finally we got on one that dropped us off near (I say that sarcastically) our hotel. We had to walk quite a ways in the dark, along I-10 in New Orleans to get to the hotel. Midnight came as we were walking. I am still amazed we lived through that!

2003: I had started dating Jacob by this time, but I can't remember if I celebrated New Year's with him that year. I have blocked out a lot of my time with him, so details are a little fuzzy.

2004: See 2003. Same story.

2005: I had broken up with Jacob by this time, but I don't remember if I did anything. Probably sat at home at my parent's. Not sure. The fogginess from Jacob carried over I guess!

2006: Josh (the husband) and I were dating at this time and we spent it at his family's ranch with some of his friends. We had a good time being in the middle of nowhere!

2007: We were engaged earlier in the month!! One of Josh's friends and his wife came to SA for a little vacation and we spent the evening with them on the Riverwalk. I had been diagnosed with mono at the beginning of the month and was exhausted by midnight, so Josh and I left early and made it to my apartment by midnight, but I made it!

2008: We had spent Christmas in Ft. Stockton last year, so we were in Schulenburg for New Year's and Christmas with my family. My dad started a little fire out in the woods and we roasted marshmallows and hung out. No big deal, but lots of fun.

2009: Sitting on the couch watching movies. Nothing wrong with it, but realizing how old we have become!!


Going back over the last decade, it is so interesting to see where I was, where I went, and now, where I am. I graduated high school. Graduated from college. Went through a lot of boyfriends. Finished coursework for my masters (damn thesis). Had two grandparents pass away. Had two real world jobs. Bought a house. Got married.

Lots of stuff has happened in the last decade and it makes me excited to see where I will be in another 10 years!!

Road Frustration

I was out and about this morning, and I just don't understand stupid drivers! Stupid drivers are probably one of my biggest pet peeves.

Josh says I have road rage, but I call it road frustration. I don't ever make any gestures or get too crazy, I mainly just talk to the crazies. This past weekend when we were on our way to Schulenburg, I drove. Of course, being Friday afternoon, traffic was crazy, and I was in typical talking to the crazies fashion. Josh just looks at me and says he doesn't understand why I can't just go with the flow. And 'how come you are so angry?'

So, on Sunday, I let Josh drive back home. Of course, there were some stupid drivers out. i.e. driving slowly in the fast lane, people driving way too fast. He says at one point, 'I want to speed up and cut that guy off!!' I just turn to him and say, 'Why are you so angry?' He just looked at me, smiled, and said, 'Dang." He knew he was caught!

I don't understand how people have gotten so "bad" at driving. I don't understand how come people are in such a big hurry that they speed so much faster than the speed limit, and weave in and out of traffic just to get one more car ahead. I'm not saying I don't speed, because I do! But I usually keep it about 5 miles above the speed limit.

I think some people need to go back to defensive driving and learn some driving ettiquette again!

The deer, Part II

This past weekend, we went home to Schulenburg for my cousin's wedding. While there, Josh got to meet Precious! He said that he never thought he would ever touch a live deer! HA! Or feed one from his hand! HAHA!

Happy Thanksgiving...A little late...

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving was a week ago!

Josh and I went to Ft. Stockton to spend it with his family. My contribution for the weekend was red velvet cake balls that I then decorated with fall colored drizzle. YUM! They turned out really well and everyone LOVED them!

All the colors!

ALL of them on my counter!

One year...

A year ago today, Josh and I got married.

I can't believe it has been a year!

Chris & Kylee's wedding

Josh's brother, Chris, got married June 6 in Weatherford. For some reason, I never posted the pics, so here are a few from the weekend.

Josh & his mom

The bridesmaids & groomsmen

Us

Here is my friend from the weekend. This is Josh's cousin's son and he was slighly enamored with me! I love the look on his face!

The cakes

Here are both of the boys. The one on the left kept looking down at his shirt when the red eye light would come on!

Here's my little friend again! At this point he didn't want anyone but me to hold him. Not even his grandpa!

It was a long, exhausting weekend, but we had a lot of fun!!

Dave says 'Sell'

Not much to report over here. I'm at work actually working on a billable project! Yeah! All last week was spent on non-billable work, so I am happy. But not too happy because it is close to 70 outside, the sun is shining, and I am stuck at my desk in front of computer, with my heater blowing at my feet, because for some reason the people in this office feel the need to blast the AC at all times. And I don't have a window to gaze out of. I more or less look longing over the railing to see the shadows the sun casts onto the parking lot pavement. I wish I was outside doing something.

And the economy has officially messed with my life! We went to see Dave Ramsey live this weekend. He was really really good. Josh has read the book and has told me all about it, so I understand his philosophy, but it was still good to hear in person. Now, we just have to put it into action. However, the economy has pretty much screwed us from doing anything except saving money. It's so bad, that I am heading out this weekend to see if I can find a part-time job! And Josh mentioned the 'S' word in regards to my truck...that word being 'Sell.' I will have to get to the point where I eat Ramen noodles (and I don't like Ramen) before I let my truck go! I have been through too much to get and keep it! I have a feeling this will be a huge point of contention for us.

Anyways, just say a prayer that all of this gets better and I don't lose my job!!

Happy New Year!

Yes, yes, I realize I am a week late! It's been hard getting back into the swing of things...especially blogging!

New Year's was fun and low key. I went to my parents early and Josh joined me New Year's Eve. Dad and I made an awesome camp fire- we grilled steaks, roasted marshmallows, set off a few fireworks, barely made it to midnight, and went to bed! New Year's Day we spent with family for lunch and afternoon naps (we were all pretty pathetic).

Dad and Ryan took Rylie quail hunting with them to Big Bend Ranch over the weekend. I was so nervous to send her! She had been with them since Christmas and were working with her, but I was still an anxious mama! And she's not even a human kid, how sad is that!? I had two travel baskets packed for her...one with towels and blankets and the other with food, bowls, leash, hunting vest, and a bag of medicine which included a list for my dad describing what each was for! My mom got quite the kick out of me! The good news is...she did GREAT! Dad said she loved it and picked up on what they were doing immediately! She never tried to run off. Ryan told me she almost died one time...when she decided she was going to chase a boulder he had pushed over a cliff. Luckily, he said she stopped in time! My heart stopped just a little again as I typed that! Whew! But, she made it back in one piece, and the poor little thing was exhausted!!! As soon as they walked out the door, I said, "Let's go to bed." She didn't even hesitate, but headed straight for the bedroom to go to sleep. Her eyes still look tired, but her energy is getting back up there. I also got the pleasure of pulling cactus stickers out of her! She didn't even flinch or fight me when I was pulling about 30 from her chest and legs. Poor thing! Part of my reason for not posting sooner is because they told me they have pictures of her from the trip, and I was waiting to get some so I could post them. My mom told me there are close to 200 pictures and Rylie's in 99% of them! Ha! My dad complains about the dogs all the time, but he's really a sucker for them, especially her now that he knows she can hunt well! I'm just glad she's back! Bayla is too! I know he enjoyed being an only child, but I knew he was lonely when the day Rylie was coming back, he was throwing with his mouth and chasing an ice cube! I wish I could be so easily entertained!

So, when I get some pictures from the guys, I will get 'em up!

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2008

We spent the holidays in Ft. Stockton with Josh's family- his parents; brother Chris and his fiancee Kylee; his mom's brother and his wife, Jamie and Judy; their daughter Jill, her husband Brad, their two kids Hudson and Carter; their other daughter Jodie; and his grandparents, Memo and Papaw. It was a houseful at times, but it was a lot of fun. We ate entirely too much food while we were there. It got to the point where it felt like we had just eaten even though it had been hours! Mostly we just hung around the house, visited, and played games.

Me, Josh, SuSu, Chris, & Kylee

Bayla- he saw the camera come out and he wanted SuSu to take a picture of him!

Me and Josh

With Memo and Papaw

Add Josh's parents

On Friday Josh and I headed out the family ranch to explore and do some target practice. A few months ago, part of the ranch burned so we wanted to check things out.

Josh eating lunch at the house

I can't remembered what he called this, but it looked really pretty against all the brown

Indian Paintings

More Indian Paintings

I think some of these look like they could be fossils

These next few are part of an area that burned.

Even though it was burned, there were still signs of life!

Indian mound where we found a lot of flint and some pieces of arrowheads

There are a lot of crazy looking cactus out there!

One of the windmills

Josh was taking some pictures, Bayla spotted him, and wanted his picture taken again. I really don't know what his fascination with the camera is!

This was my first Christmas not to spend with my family, which was kind of sad, but that's life, so I really wasn't too bummed.

On Christmas Eve, I got this picture that said they missed me!

And then I got this one from Rylie wish me a Merry Christmas!

Her Grandpa RoRo and Ryan are taking her hunting to Big Bend this weekend, so they spent most of Christmas preparing her for the trip since she's never been. Look at her cute little boots! I'm a little sad that I won't be able to go with her because I really want to be there for her first time out!

I'm heading home tonight and Josh will meet me there tomorrow so we can do Christmas with my family and a New Year's lunch on Thursday. I really can't believe 2009 is here already!