Giving Thanks

Dan and I were so lucky to be able to go down to Utah for Thanksgiving. We didn't think we'd be able to make it with his work load and the weather. The weather decided to cooperate just enough for us to make it, but still put us through hours of snow torture going 30 mph. 


It was so good to see most of our friends and family. Its amazing how much four months can make you miss people. Some of the trips highlights ...


Surprising both of Dan's parent's who didn't know we were coming. I think we were close to giving JoAnn a heart attack.


Getting a rock stuck in my breaks - Dan had to pull my wheel off and fish it out.. but the repair was minor compared to the worrying it caused me.


Sushi with my bff... SO GOOD...









...ALMOST as good as Thanksgiving dinner. The best food ever! I will never be able to live up to this level of cooking in my life time, and I am okay with that because I get to eat it while it lasts.


Unfortunately no food can live up to the satisfaction that comes from spending time with our families. I love all of them - especially my niece who decided to climb on the table and rock out for us!





All in all it was the best time I've had in a long time.. I am so glad we were able to come and make it there and back safe.


<Insert one complaint here. Idaho does NOT know how to take care of their roads. Their idea of plowing is to throw rocks down on the ice. Not the best method I've ever seen - my car's paint dents can attest to this.>

Look who was ahead of the times..

So everyone is talking about how Prince William purposed to his fiance with his mother's sapphire engagement ring.  When Princess Diana picked the sapphire ring, sales of sapphires skyrocketed. Now that the ring is back in the spotlight, many think sapphires will come "back in style"

UM ... HELLO!


Sapphires have always been beautiful! That is why I picked an ice-blue sapphire for my ring. Look who was ahead of the times... 


haha

I was right!

Yesterday right after I blogged about breaking the knife this happened...





I cracked the joint in my lemon squeezer and it broke off :( 


Luckily, I can try to exchange this one at Bed Bath and Beyond. 


I still can't believe all of this is happening. I must be REAL strong. 

I am ... the HULK

This morning I was making Dan's lunch, and while I was cutting the cheese for his sandwich this happened...





so much for Stainless Steel! I broke the knife in half while cutting cheese! 


Maybe today is my lucky day - I better go buy a lotto ticket. 

Unemployed..

A blessing or a curse? 


For the majority of America I am assuming this is a curse. 


For me it was quite the opposite really. I was working for a company that I classified as a "sinking ship." Working crazy hours on salary and it was demanded because "in this economy you are replaceable." I had a hard time focusing on work with the thoughts of an upcoming wedding and move for Dan's law school. Being laid off was a blessing because it allowed me to still receive some income while I finished wedding plans and set off on an adventure to Idaho. 


Being unemployed after working for years is a feeling that I can only classify as weird. A wave of different emotions crash in on a regular basis. At first I loved being unemployed. I loved having the summer off of work and responsibilities to spend time relaxing and having fun with Dan. I loved the fact that I had enough money coming in to scrape by, and that I could plan a wedding in one month. I was busy with the all of the major life changes that took place in a matter of months - anyone who has ever moved out of state can understand the enormous task. I had been consistently looking and applying for jobs along the way, but I secretly hoped that none of them would call me back. Occasionally I would have some fear and anxiety about really finding a job, but because I didn't need one immediately I'd suppress those feelings and soon enough they'd go away and I was right back to enjoying my time off. 


Today a wave of ANXIETY hit like a ton of bricks. I am just starting month five of my unemployment and with the recent election that means I have about 7 weeks until I am high and dry of income, unless by some miracle congress extends the unemployment benefits - which they are proud to take away. 


The job search in Moscow, Idaho is far more challenging than I had ever imagined. The two universities are the major employers within a 70 mile radius. Getting a university to look twice at my resume has proven impossible. I found a job listing the other day for a ticket clerk at the sporting events that would start at $12/hour but REQUIRED a bachelors degree. Are you kidding me? You want me to go to school for four years to be qualified to take tickets at a football game!


I've read a few articles recently about how the unemployment rate for individuals in their 20's is much higher than the national average. This article is always quickly accompanied by articles talking about the college graduates that can't get a job even with their recent degree.


Whats a girl like me to do? No degree. Two and a half years experience in project management for software development (which is almost a foreign term in this rural community). Going to school is an option that I have explored extensively, I was even enrolled for classes this fall - but out of state tuition is crazy and money isn't easy to come by.


All I know is that I have control over a few things. Many things I cannot control at all. 


Today I'm going to get up, put my right foot in front of my left foot, take my left foot and put it in front of my right, and repeat because that is all I can do..

Halloween - A Therapist's Favorite Holiday

Maybe I am being a bit dramatic, likely caused by the fact that I am not feeling very well today. This year especially I can't help but to be repulsed by Halloween. I have come to the conclusion that it must be a therapist's favorite holiday. Not only do death and mortality issues come creeping to the surface, but it the one night a year where every girl with daddy issues feels the need to slut it up. They are walking bull's eyes. If anyone out there wants to go into therapy - you could get an entire patient base by handing out your business cards to all of the "sexy" doctors, nurses or cops that invade society on this god-forsaken night. 

I fully support the children under the age of 12 in their Halloween endeavors. They are more than welcome to come to my door and take away left over candy from our wedding, but I can't logically find any reason as to why grown adults feel the need to dress up character or a professional that they could never amount to in real life.

If you've read this far, then bless your heart for listening to my cynical ranting for as long as you did and Happy Halloween.

Cold Weather = A Cold

Cold Weather = A Cold ... or a viral infection to be more specific. 


Every year just like clockwork when the cold weather comes everyone seems to get sick. Luckily this year cold weather means rain instead of snow - I know the snow will come eventually but until then I will not miss scraping my car. (Have fun with that all of you in Utah!)


I've been fortunate so far - only a few days feeling under the weather with nothing too serious. Dan on the other hand has been a little less fortunate. I guess thats the price you pay when you are cooped up in Law School all day long with a bunch of wannabe lawyers. After much convincing and a missed day of school, Dan finally agreed to see a doctor. The result was rx for cough syrup with codeine and rest - no rocket science here - I could have told him that. I guess my signature on a little piece of paper doesn't mean much though. 


So we stocked up on lemons to make warm lemon-honey-water and cough drops. (If you haven't tried the lemon-honey-water then you are missing it because it is a lifesaver.)


Its funny how one detail can change your perspective on a situation. Normally, I am VERY annoyed by snoring - and Dan hardly ever snores. But the past few nights I have felt a sense of relief if I hear Dan snoring, because I know he has finally fallen asleep, and is sleeping well. 


Like clockwork it came and like clockwork it will go - hopefully sooner than later.