Ahhhhhhh!!

Ok so my husband and I live in a nice apartment complex, well at least I think it's nice. It's the kind of place that if you have a maintenance request they will have someone there that same day to fix it.

They have a pool & little gym (no extra cost), well lit parking lots, well groomed landscape, snow removal, quiet neighbors....all in all...pretty good.

BUT there is one thing, and it has to do with those pesky neighbors. We live in a second floor (which is the top floor) apartment with a window in the kitchen and I sliding glass door that goes out to our porch off the living room. Both of these windows are in the back of our apartment and provide a lovely breeze when the weather is nice. The thing is, when the weather is nice our neighbors enjoy sitting on their back porches and SMOKING!!!! So that lovely breeze turns into disgusting smokey air.

No offense to anyone that smokes, to me it is a dirty habit that drives me crazy. But if you want to turn your lungs black fine, just please leave mine the way they are. Growing up my parents smoked...never in the house, but they still smoked. It was something they were able to conquer and successfully quit while I was still young. I think that's where my sensitivity to the smell comes from. It literally drives me crazy. One minute I'll be sitting comfortably in my living room with the windows open and the next minute I will be up out of my seat slamming (gently) windows and doors because someone is smoking!!!

I'm the kind of person that likes every season and since fall is nearing I am so excited. I am sick of summer and am ready for fall. Fall brings cool fresh air perfect for jeans & a sweatshirt, going for a walk without sweating through your shirt, oh yes and leaving your windows wind OPEN!!!!

Praying I can find a way not to let my neighbors ruin my fall...

What now?

So this summer has been good. Filled with lots of relaxing, spending time with people I love, taking a much needed break after 5 years of college, and trying not to worry about the whole job thing.

Now summer is officially over and I'm not in school and I'm not working and I'm feeling kinda weird about it.

I was a Physics major and a mathematics minor. Well my degree is a BSE in Physics not just a BS. So what does that mean, well it means I was a secondary ed major, but what it really means is I took a total of 5 education classes. Oh and student teaching, which is pretty much an internship. I took more math classes than education classes, yet peoples' jaws drop when they hear I'm not teaching and don't really want to at the moment.

I try not to let it bother me when people give me the judgmental look of disbelief that I'm going to completely waste my college education. Who knows what's really going on inside their head, but that's sure what it feels like. One thing that helps me care less about "the look" is the fact that I know, without a shadow of doubt, that my college education will never be wasted. I was a physics major for a reason. I had the opportunity of taking so many challenging classes that people view as impossible. And I was good at it. I got to study something in college that a really liked, now I need to find something I really like to do for a job.

Being a physics major gave me the confidence in knowing that I can tackle the world...after 5 years of physics...bring it on. I know I am a critical thinker, I'm a problem solver, I'm determined, oh ya and I'm pretty smart.

I'm a people person, I'm good with money and numbers, I'm an encourager, I like to help people, I like to tell it how it is, I'm super organized, I like to think of more efficient ways of doing things...

I'm not a good speller, not that great at grammar either, I'm not the fastest reader that ever lived...

So what now? Now I just need to find a job that uses my strengths and doesn't highlight my weaknesses. And I know I will, it's just a little strange waiting.

I know this post might sound a little cocky, but I write for myself. I know who I am, and I'm not afraid to remind myself of that.

Lyryn

So yes it's that time of year again...Lyryn's Birthday. And this year she turns 29!!! :) It's not like 29 is over the hill or anything, I just like teasing her since we have a little age gap between us!

Lyryn is a friend I love spending time with. She drives me crazy and makes me smile in the same instance. We can have fun doing anything from going out for a girls night to organizing her crazy insane attic. She's the kind of person you just want to live life with. If I come over and she's making one of her famous cakes, that means I'll just help (and by help of course I mean talk her ear off while she does everything :)). She's a real person, with me there is no mask she can put up, I can see right through it and always love what's on the other side.

She's still a great mommy, trying new things for her boys...
She's still a great wife, learning each and every day...
She's still a great friend, ready to put a smile on your face...

She's simply a great person and I'm blessed to be able to call her my friend!!

Happy Birthday Lyryn

North Carolina

Since I mentioned the annual tradition of the Outer Banks with my best friend's family, I figured I would share a little more about it...

My best friend is Katie Uhler, we met when we were 4 and have been best friends ever since. She is the second oldest of 5. So family vacation is pretty big with everyone bringing friends. This year was no exception. We had 14 adults in a 5 bedroom house.

Every year this vacation is super super relaxing, like no other I have ever had before. [Growing up my family wasn't into the beach...we were campers instead]. The Outer Banks are great because since they're not public beaches...so it's less crowded. Going down this year I expected a week full of great food, tons of volleyball, catching waves, kayak excretions, sun bathing, four-wheeling beach, etc... And boy was I right.

So I'm not a person that likes to sleep in on vacation. It's just me, I don't want to sleep my vacation away. So I would get up every morning [around 6am], grab any number of macs laying around (Uhler's are a mac family), head upstairs to hang with Papa U [Katie's dad]. He would be drinking his coffee, looking at some work stuff, and planning the days menu. I would check my e-mail, facebook, and read my favorite blogs. When 8am rolled around we would head to the food store right across the way. I've figured out recently that I like going to the food store, especially with other people. So every morning we would get what we needed for the menu that day...yum...Papa U is an amazing cook.

Get back from the store, eat some breakfast, and head to the beach...oh wait I forgot something, lotion up. I am very fare skinned so this is a process. As the Uhlers all take 5 minutes to protect themselves from the sun, using like 4 spf. I take like 20 minutes bathing myself in 30 spf.

The first day we setup the mega volleyball net, Papa U's creation. Get two 4 inch PVC pipe, drill some holes and use a regular net. We leave it up all week with no problems. Some neighbors down the way had their own net up, but it kept falling...so they saw ours and decided to come make friends. They were an awesome family from the mountains of North Carolina. Lots of volleyball and some other beach games kept us busy with our new friends.

We even had an entertaining lifeguard this year. His name was Arec [pronounced Eric]. Most lifeguards have their name, the water temp, and maybe one other message on their blackboard. But Arec had the norm along with a word of the day and a riddle. The riddles he had on the board were kinda simple and not that challenging, but we soon learned we could ask him for more and we even gave him some of our own for him to figure out. It made for some extra entertainment every time we came or left the beach.

The water was interesting this year as well. One day that the water was soooo freezing that you were numb by the time you were halfway in. The next day the wind was so crazy and the ocean was angry (or so said Arec's board ) that we could barely do anything. Our last day the wind was a little calmer, but the ocean was still pretty crazy. So we just played lots and lots of volleyball.

Once during the last day my pale skin needed a break from the sun so I went to hang out with our new friends from North Carolina, the Bates. They had two big tents...so sun protection was very good. I talked to them for a good 1 or so. Learning all about their story. They were seriously the coolest family. Their oldest daughter had just graduated from college and received the Watson Fellowship to travel around the world for an entire year. She's into medical stuff and just got certified as an EMT this summer. I was instantly hooked on this family and decided I would have to keep in touch. Sara started her trip a few weeks ago in Indonesia. She then will travel to New Zealand, Ethiopia, and Nepal or Chile. If you want to follow along, here is her blog. She's only written a few posts and I'm already inspired by her.

Another event that happens every year is a trip to the four-wheeling beach. Everyone actually gets up early. We grab breakfast at a coffee shop and head to the four-wheeling beach. It's super fun to drive around on the sand and see wild horses!! This year was no exception, we saw some pregnant mama horses and some young ones too. This year Katie and I road with one of Katie's little brothers friend. He has an awesome jeep that we took into the dunes.

Our nights were filled with AMAZING DINNERS and then some fun games afterwards. We had our second ever scavenger hunt...which was awesome!! Katie's little sister [and friends] came up with some great stuff.

Obviously I could go on forever about vacation, but I think I'll stop here...what an amazing trip...the only thing that could have made it better would be having my hubby there.

Belated [1] Year

So my husband and I just celebrated our first year of marriage. It has been one great year. Full of lots of love and happiness. Our anniversary is July 10th, but we didn't get around to our date until July 27th...yes a Wednesday. Troy is a store manager at Papa Johns...so our "weekend" is whenever he has off.

On our actual wedding anniversary we were in two different states...ahhh I know. My best friend's family goes to Outer Banks, North Carolina every year for vacation. I have gone with them every year since they were allowed to bring friends (2005) ...excluding the year I got married. So when I had the opportunity to go, I jumped on it. Before you think I'm the worst wife in the world for leaving my hubby at home...we were going to visit my Aunt & Uncle in Florida the very next week together. My Uncle flew me down as a graduation present, so it was only the price of one ticket for us both to go down. So that was our little anniversary trip.

Anyway back to our one year date. We got a little anniversary money from my Nana and Troy's mom mom and gran gran. So we put it towards our date...

The day started out with babysitting our youngest nephew, Tristan (Troy's sister's youngest), for a hour so mama could run some errands with only one child in tow. I know that doesn't really sound like a start to a date day...but he pretty much slept on my chest the entire time...which was enough to make my heart melt.

Troy had to run to work for a meeting...stinks...but then he came home and made me lunch, yum! We snuggled for a few hours and then decided to look nice for our date. I wore my cute little dress from Troy's sister's wedding and he wore jeans and a button down.

Then we were off to play miniature golf at Village Greens! We decided to go for the 24 holes course. Of course Troy had to bring his own putter (he thinks he's a real golfer). It was a beautiful day, a little hot...but the course is mostly in the shade. At the end....drum roll please...yes I beat him by two strokes!! After much boasting Troy finally got me to get in the car...but I'm not sure how I fit with my inflated head! We decided mini golf would be part of our anniversary date every year and we'd keep track of our wins!!

Now it was time for food. We headed to Long Horn for a nice dinner. Troy had a New York Strip with a Loaded Baked Potato. I had the Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Seasoned French Fries and a BBQ Chopped Salad. Oh and I also had a Mint Mojito...my favorite summer drink. Although they always turn out better when they're homemade.

Our dinner conversation revolved around the past year. Things that surprised us, disappointed us, or that we expected from our first year of marriage. It was a great time to simply be together.

Then we headed home for more snuggling, catching up on a few of our favorite shows, and tasting of our year old wedding cake. Troy was not into the last part, he looked at me and said, "I'm only doing this for you babe" which I responded, "Real romantic". So we took a slice and were eating until there were two bites left...he went to give one of them to me and I say that I was done...he responded, "Oh thank you!!". Our cake was adorable and delicious on the big day...but it wasn't wrapped real well.

We had a kind of early night, since Troy was working bright and early, but it was a wonderful day!!! All it was missing was flowers ;) Love him!

Random

So I'm obviously not a blogger and rarely ever post...it's more for me to remember certain thing...or just to have a place to write if I ever feel inclined to. But I'm thinking I have a few post ideas...so I might feel inclined to soon!!

Lyryn :)

It's been one year, how appropriate that it takes Lyryn's birthday to lure me back to my blog...

I decided to read my post from last year before attempting a new one. The things I said then are still so true today, some slightly changed...since she is now a mother of not one, but two.

I could list all her amazing qualities, but that wouldn't even scratch the surface of who she is and what she means to this world. Lyryn has a destiny that she's striving for. Of course there are distractions and blockades that are trying to veer her off course, but she always manages to find her way back. When I look at Lyryn passion radiates from her face. Sometimes she tries to mask it, but trigger the right topic and she can light up a room with her hopes and dreams.

I have the joy of watching her walk in towards those hopes & dreams and the privilege of kicking her in the pants when needed.
Sometimes I wish she could see herself through the eyes of the people that love her.
She would see beauty, passion, hope, talent...

Happy Birthday Lyryn...

...keep on livin' life, Lyryn style.