Alabama

Ok, it has been far far too long since I have written anything... as the last year has seemed to be. However, life SHOULD slow down a bit now that we have moved. : )

I still find it humorous that we live in Alabama, and these folk are pretty much what you would think would be Alabamians...  however, we have run across some very kind and nice people, so, so far, so good. I do miss the west coast, and am a bit saddened that we did not head back that way, but that the Army for you, and sometimes you find the best things where you least expect it, or expect to be.

Currently I am enjoying having a week and a half off between job transfers. I did have to leave Florida in a bit of a rush because of winter storm Leon. By the time I got to our home :) I had a good quarter of an inch of ice all over the car, mirrors, antenna, etc. So its a good thing I left when I did. (I really wanted to get my hair done, but that would have resulted in another 4 hour delay leaving, and truly would have been a terrible idea) There was ice and snow everywhere. The snow wasn't bad, 2 inches really, but the ice is what was causing the issues. It was warm, and then dropping freezing rain, and then coating the roads, and dumb dumbs think they are good drivers and have no idea what black ice is and got in all sorts of messes. Everything from Verizon to McDonald's was closed. A cool welcoming to Alabama. Btw - that is very abnormal weather for here. It even snowed in Niceville Fl and Fort Walton, they closed down most of the roads down there too, in part because so much of that area is connected with bridges, and in part because it was all just frozen over and no one in Florida can drive in that.

What else is going on in life,

Well, life. I am excited about having a house to do what we like with, its still a little surreal, I still feel like I should be renting, and I am sure it won't hit home until there is some kind of repair work to be done... hopefully not for a long while. I will say it is wonderful having a dishwasher we bought, that works... and works well (if you ever have the option of a dishwasher that does a 1/2 load, yes, a 1/2 load, buy it... best thing ever) and a washer and dryer that actually clean clothes, and dry them in like 40 minutes (who knew that was possible!) without lint everywhere.... make me relaxed and comfortable, and a bit spoiled. We are still unpacking, and realizing we down sized a lot when we moved to Florida and that this house is big, even though it looks like the smallest house in the neighborhood (it possible is the smallest floor plan). That is fine, there is a bit of a desire for giant houses here, which I do not understand, but maybe that the 'hippie' in me, but its just common sense.

They still don't separate recycling at the curb, and that bothers me but there isn't much I can do about it, it just stuns me that there are places that have a giant recycling can and a tiny trash can, and then places that don't separate it at all.

They sell crickets at the gas station up the road... I had to ask Kristopher what they where about, I honestly could not figure it out... fishing... duh, fishing.

Sweet Tea is to Alabama what Coffee is to Oregon. No worries, I will never let go of my coffee, but sweet tea is not so bad either.

I have a whole room do to crafts in in this house, and I have no idea what to do with it yet.... but I do need to work on new items for the Etsy shop. I also did buy the digital studio program for Stampin' Up, and can't decide what I want to do with it Gnome Notes wise... mostly because of printing/selling restrictions for copyright/legality reasons.

We bought a grown up bedroom set that arrives next week, it feels so, grown up... I don't know how I feel about it, but I do love the set.

We also bought a new mattress, since Kristopher was spending about 30% of the time sleeping it in (thats probably very gracious estimate) and the rest of the time sleeping on the floor next to it, we didn't move the mattress we had. We tried out beds down in Destin, and ordered a Temra-pedic, which should help him sleep, and both of us age/avoid/remedy back issues... I am 5 days in and it is weird, and I currently am not a fan. The lady said give it 30 days (we get 100 to exchange it out, no extra cost, no questions asked) but it is weird, and all the reviews to say to walk around on the bed to break it in, so jump on it, well its not a bouncy bed, so this proves difficult. We have thought about trying to borrow the neighbor's kids and have them come jump on it.... probably not the best way to meet some of the neighbors. Some nights I sleep great, others, I wake up feeling refreshed at 3:30 am and then go back to bed at 5 and sleep another 4 hours... I guess its a good thing I do not start work until Friday.

I am reading again, and at a wonderful pace too. Kristopher is a bit jealous and wants me to slow down (mainly because he started the series, and I am going to pace him soon and know the rest of the story before him : ) )

Any recommendations of books would be graciously welcome.

I am most likely going to finish Divergent today and barrel though the series before I start work (thats the plan anyways) and then I will need recommendations lined up to start.

We have a big ole back yard and front yard I can hardly wait to start landscaping and making beautiful with a fire pit and raised garden beds (one project at a time, I know)

I finished my Accounting class in the midst of the move and am hoping there is a bit more time to digest Finance (my next course) since there is not a 2 week holiday break in the midst of the 10 week course (accounting pretty much was an 8 week course, but is normally a full 10).

Ok, thats the quick catch up. I really hope that I have more time to write, since we are settling in, and Ill have an office/craft space to stay set up and be able to go and type away, and create away, and a whole house with great spaces to read away.

Now just to find spaces to 'work out away'