Life is good- that's really all there is to say! But for the sake of blogging, I'll try to get more specific.
Everything is getting more routine, which is good for everyone. I'm getting used to Brady and Kevin coming and going (I absolutely LOVE when they are here!), Lucy is getting used to living in a big city, I'm getting accustomed to my wacky work schedule, and I'm doing well at my new job.
Work is really good- while I miss the classroom EVERY DAY, this job was an excellent career move. I'm developing all kinds of new skills, I feel like I'm doing well, and what I enjoy doing and am good at doing (in contrast to what I hate and what I suck at!) is becoming very, very clear. With teaching it all got really muddled, but with this job it all rises to the surface.
Living in Chicago is AWESOME. I love spending time with old friends, I love meeting new friends, and I love just putzing around in my neighborhood. My apartment grows on me more and more everyday, and I think I'd like to settle in for awhile if at all possible. This neighborhood is great for eating out, going out, hosting parties, and taking long walks/runs. And it is going to be BEAUTIFUL when the leaves change. My street has a ton of trees and already it feels completely like fall.
October is going to be a great month- Adam and I are planning a roadtrip to Wisconsin to enjoy the fall weather, I'm going to Bloomington for Nancy's wedding, work should continue improve... life is just pretty darn good. :)
If you can't tell, I'm pretty darn happy! More updates to come, including some promised pictures of apartment updates.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Highs and Lows - Brady
Today is the first day of class for me. I'm still really, really nervous about this and not at all sure what I'm doing. I also probably won't be writing TOO much in the near future, so for now here's an update of highs and lows of our first few weeks together in Chicago.
I'll start with the negative and move to the positive:
Lows:
- Goes without saying, but my super nervousness about this whole PhD thing.
- Feeling like I'm always forgetting something when I'm traveling back and forth.
- Missing teaching - being back in the building where I took all my certification classes is making me sentimental.
- Not spending every day with Kevin. And not knowing week to week how often we'll be together.
- Hard-to-contact landlord.
- Missing our house in Fort Wayne.
- Kevin having to drive so much.
- Unexpectedly having class on Fridays. I was counting on being able to get to FW for long weekends but I have a statistics class both Monday and Friday mornings.
Highs:
- Seeing LOTS of my sisters and parents. Kelly's obviously at the apartment, and it's a very easy trip back to La Porte for me to see Mom, Dad, and Amy.
- Creating an awesome traveling system. I carry all of my essentials (glasses, keys, medicine, planner, etc.) in a big bag that I take everywhere. Then, I have clothes and toiletries in Fort Wayne, Chicago, and La Porte, so I never have to pack.
- Riding trains. South Shore, Amtrak, El, you name it, I'm on it. And I love it. If trains had tables, they might very well be my perfect study space.
- Kelly's massive, wonderful apartment decoration effort.
- Chicago fun. A White Sox game and overnight trip to a friend's house on the Fox River all in one weekend.
- Getting to know Lucy.
- Nice people in my program.
- Having an office (even if I share it with 4 other people).
- FINALLY getting class underway after all of this worry and anticipation.
I'll start with the negative and move to the positive:
Lows:
- Goes without saying, but my super nervousness about this whole PhD thing.
- Feeling like I'm always forgetting something when I'm traveling back and forth.
- Missing teaching - being back in the building where I took all my certification classes is making me sentimental.
- Not spending every day with Kevin. And not knowing week to week how often we'll be together.
- Hard-to-contact landlord.
- Missing our house in Fort Wayne.
- Kevin having to drive so much.
- Unexpectedly having class on Fridays. I was counting on being able to get to FW for long weekends but I have a statistics class both Monday and Friday mornings.
Highs:
- Seeing LOTS of my sisters and parents. Kelly's obviously at the apartment, and it's a very easy trip back to La Porte for me to see Mom, Dad, and Amy.
- Creating an awesome traveling system. I carry all of my essentials (glasses, keys, medicine, planner, etc.) in a big bag that I take everywhere. Then, I have clothes and toiletries in Fort Wayne, Chicago, and La Porte, so I never have to pack.
- Riding trains. South Shore, Amtrak, El, you name it, I'm on it. And I love it. If trains had tables, they might very well be my perfect study space.
- Kelly's massive, wonderful apartment decoration effort.
- Chicago fun. A White Sox game and overnight trip to a friend's house on the Fox River all in one weekend.
- Getting to know Lucy.
- Nice people in my program.
- Having an office (even if I share it with 4 other people).
- FINALLY getting class underway after all of this worry and anticipation.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday Night Update - Kelly
So our apartment is really coming together- my goal is to take new pictures and get them posted by the end of the week. We have furniture, decorations, lighting, even throw pillows! Haha- We also have an extra futon on the porch (maybe I should start calling it a sunroom to make it sound fancier!) which means we have LOADS of room for guests, so start coming to see us!
Lucy is also rocking it out at doggy day care and her training class. She did pick up a little case of pink eye, but is recovering quite nicely. Chasing her around to put in her eye drops is also added exercise for both of us.
In other life news, I'm really loving reconnecting with old friends from high school and college (one of the many reasons I wanted to move here!). Kirby and I went for a run last week, I had dinner with Aaron, a friend from IU, and Adam and I have been joined at the hip as we were our entire senior year of college. He has donated furniture and his handyman skills to our apartment on multiple occasions- I'm not sure what I would do with out him!
Also, an exciting new adventure- I've decided to give online dating a try. Since college I haven't had a ton of interest in dating anyone seriously, but now that I'm settling in somewhere I'd like to stay, it's starting to sound more appealing. I hate meeting people at bars and don't think it's a good idea to date people from work, though, so this seemed like a logical thing to try. No making fun, please- I know people have mixed opinions on this way of meeting people! I signed up for three months and am going to give it a fair shot, so we will see. :)
Besides that the job is keeping me busy but happy and I'm loving the changing season. Fall will be a busy time for me, but it's busy with happy, fun things so I can't complain!
Lucy is also rocking it out at doggy day care and her training class. She did pick up a little case of pink eye, but is recovering quite nicely. Chasing her around to put in her eye drops is also added exercise for both of us.
In other life news, I'm really loving reconnecting with old friends from high school and college (one of the many reasons I wanted to move here!). Kirby and I went for a run last week, I had dinner with Aaron, a friend from IU, and Adam and I have been joined at the hip as we were our entire senior year of college. He has donated furniture and his handyman skills to our apartment on multiple occasions- I'm not sure what I would do with out him!
Also, an exciting new adventure- I've decided to give online dating a try. Since college I haven't had a ton of interest in dating anyone seriously, but now that I'm settling in somewhere I'd like to stay, it's starting to sound more appealing. I hate meeting people at bars and don't think it's a good idea to date people from work, though, so this seemed like a logical thing to try. No making fun, please- I know people have mixed opinions on this way of meeting people! I signed up for three months and am going to give it a fair shot, so we will see. :)
Besides that the job is keeping me busy but happy and I'm loving the changing season. Fall will be a busy time for me, but it's busy with happy, fun things so I can't complain!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Lucy - Kelly
I had a trip to Denver for work this week which resulted in Lucy spending some time in LaPorte. While it has been nice to be dog-free for a few days, I really miss her! I'm headed to pick her up in a few hours and am really excited. Her adjustment to Chicago is taking a little longer than I had expected, but she's starting doggy daycare next week which I think is going to help.
Whew, it's been a weird week and I'm so happy it's Friday!
Whew, it's been a weird week and I'm so happy it's Friday!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Things I would recommend -Amy
1. Purchasing the new Black-Eyed Peas album. Or atleast the song "I Gotta a Feeling." It's really some feel good music.
2. Trying Zumba. It will change your life. Or atleast it changed mine.
3. Having a strict "no cut out" policy with your family. I know it sounds stupid, but tons of people cut family members out of their lives. I'm not saying you can't be mad or upset at them ever, I'm just saying, in my opinion, there is really nothing worth fighting for an extend period of time about. Maybe that's because I have the best family ever. Who knows.
4. Staying in touch with your friends.
5. Going to college. If you are past college age and you didn't go, still, go to college. If you went to college, Hooray!
6. Letting yourself pig out once in awhile. The fun is worth it.
7. Watching the Father of the Bride movies.
8. Not making your kids clean their plates. I sort of believe that this is a partial reason that Americans are overweight (and maybe because of posts like #6, #10, and #11).
9. Saying thank you as many times as possible in a day.
10. Fried Rice and Crab Rangoon from "Great Wall" in La Porte.
11. Making a smore with a reese's cup instead of a hershey bar.
12. Starting your own "things I would recommend" list.
2. Trying Zumba. It will change your life. Or atleast it changed mine.
3. Having a strict "no cut out" policy with your family. I know it sounds stupid, but tons of people cut family members out of their lives. I'm not saying you can't be mad or upset at them ever, I'm just saying, in my opinion, there is really nothing worth fighting for an extend period of time about. Maybe that's because I have the best family ever. Who knows.
4. Staying in touch with your friends.
5. Going to college. If you are past college age and you didn't go, still, go to college. If you went to college, Hooray!
6. Letting yourself pig out once in awhile. The fun is worth it.
7. Watching the Father of the Bride movies.
8. Not making your kids clean their plates. I sort of believe that this is a partial reason that Americans are overweight (and maybe because of posts like #6, #10, and #11).
9. Saying thank you as many times as possible in a day.
10. Fried Rice and Crab Rangoon from "Great Wall" in La Porte.
11. Making a smore with a reese's cup instead of a hershey bar.
12. Starting your own "things I would recommend" list.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Weekend Fun! -Amy
This weekend is proving to be very fun, and the beauty of it is that I still have 2 and a half days left of this fabulous weekend!
First, I went to Chicago last night for my friend, Courtney's, birthday. It was a really good time. I was a tiny bit depressed that I was falling asleep in the cab on the way home because I was too tired from my real big girl job to stay up that late! It was a really good time though. Roger even surprised me and met us out, so we got to spend some time together! It was great!
Then, Roger and I drove back to La Porte this morning because he is getting a new car today! So exciting for him! It's pretty exciting for me, too, because I don't have to worry about him having car trouble to and from work everyday. He has quite a bit of a commute so this new car is going to be great!
I'm not sure what else the weekend has in store, but it promises to be good! I LOVE having 3 full days of freedom! Long weekends rock! I love my job, I love the weekends, I'm loving life! I really couldn't be happier!
Another fun thing that happened this week was that Brady came into my classroom and volunteered for a morning! The kids were a little squirrely, but they loved having her! I hope that "Ms. Jones number 1," as the kids called her, can come visit again soon. I explained that she had to be number 1 because she was the original Ms. Jones in the family!
First, I went to Chicago last night for my friend, Courtney's, birthday. It was a really good time. I was a tiny bit depressed that I was falling asleep in the cab on the way home because I was too tired from my real big girl job to stay up that late! It was a really good time though. Roger even surprised me and met us out, so we got to spend some time together! It was great!
Then, Roger and I drove back to La Porte this morning because he is getting a new car today! So exciting for him! It's pretty exciting for me, too, because I don't have to worry about him having car trouble to and from work everyday. He has quite a bit of a commute so this new car is going to be great!
I'm not sure what else the weekend has in store, but it promises to be good! I LOVE having 3 full days of freedom! Long weekends rock! I love my job, I love the weekends, I'm loving life! I really couldn't be happier!
Another fun thing that happened this week was that Brady came into my classroom and volunteered for a morning! The kids were a little squirrely, but they loved having her! I hope that "Ms. Jones number 1," as the kids called her, can come visit again soon. I explained that she had to be number 1 because she was the original Ms. Jones in the family!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
A Little Break - Brady
Hey everybody,
I might not post for a little while. I'm super nervous about going to school and am not feeling much like writing about it. Kelly and Amy - you'll have to keep it going for a couple of weeks. :)
Brady
I might not post for a little while. I'm super nervous about going to school and am not feeling much like writing about it. Kelly and Amy - you'll have to keep it going for a couple of weeks. :)
Brady
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