The Charm

Jay graduated law school in May of '06 and has consistently been searching and applying for jobs. Last fall we were offered a position in Phoenix, which we now think, in hindsight, we maybe should have accepted, maybe. But it's sooo far away...

In late July, Jay flew to MCG for an on-campus interview. Out of 200+ applicants, 10+ phone interviews, he was one of 3 in-person interviews. He thought it looked good, we were excited and tentatively looking online at Augusta. The VP for Legal Services (head attorney for the school, he would've been Jay's boss) said it all looked good but he'd let us know for sure in late July. MCG had a new president and he was doing an evaluation of all senior staff and the VP wanted to wait until the dust settled before hiring someone. So we wait for the last week of July, then the first week of August, then the second week... After waiting six weeks, I nagged Jay into sending an e-mail: we're looking at other opportunities, need to make plans, etc. So the VP calls Jay and says basically that during the evaluative process, they decided to eliminate the position Jay interviewed for, all due to budget cuts. What? It took 6 weeks to let us know? So disappointed.

Now what?

In the meantime, Jay applied for a job in August, had a phone interview in mid-September and they flew him out the next week (September 16-17) for an on-campus interview. During the phone interview, someone said, "Wow, you sound perfect for this job." But Tampa, what? Do we really want to be in Tampa? So he went down for the interview, they quickly started to referring to the job as Jay's and saying, "Well, we can have Jay do this or that, etc." And before he even left town, the senior attorney told him to keep the first week of November open for some big conference in DC. Holy Mole! Tampa!

And it's all happened so fast since then. Six days after he got home, we got the offer and accepted it the next day. I broke the news to my mom (seriously bawling over the phone; I never want to do that again.) and Jay broke it to his parents. We've been looking around online and ramped up our efforts to finish the work we've planned on this house. (Anyone want to buy a nice 4 bedroom, 2 bath cap cod in northern Kentucky? We've renovated both bathroom and it's got a new roof and paint throughout! No? Okay.)

So the plan, for right now, is for Jay to head down to start work November 8th, come back for Turkey Day. I'll keep the home fires burning, supervise the movers sometime during the week of Turkey Day and then we head back down with Jay the 29th, ready to sink our toes in the sand and avoid the snow and cold.

We got few visitors here in Northern KY; I expect we'll get a lot more visits from friends and family in Tampa. :)

Stuff

Further evidence for Jay that digging in someone's trash, shopping at thrift stores and yard sales are good for the environment and my wallet. And I recycle, though Jay resents the fact that we have to pay $5 a month to recycle.

The Story of Stuff (long video but useful info)

M26: The Story of Stuff (like her review of above video)

The Stuff of Stuff

I Like Stuff

And what if all my STUFF was gone in an instant? Would I feel lighter or mourn for all the useless and untouched bits and pieces?

Used is hip now, isn't it? Lots of blogs now for reusing and redoing what you've already got, or found on the curb. When I need some "retail therapy," I head to my favorite thrift store, honest. I like stuff, too, but I'm cheap and I love giving something a new life. Here are some of my favorite blogs for inspiration of updating and improving previously loved treasures.

Remodelaholic

Better After

So Jessica, when can you come up and help me purge? I need some honest and harsh new eyes to evaluate the necessity of my stuff. And some empty boxes; anybody got empty moving boxes to haul my stuff away?

Tribute to Jay

This is too cool, even if it's just for the UK visor. Love you, Dad.

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Another One Down

1 neglected, ignored pitiful blog
2 homes we've shared together
3 monkeys we've created and unleashed on the world
4 degrees Jay's earned (#4 finishing up soon!)
5 cars we've gone through
6 traveling excursions shared together
7+ years of loony parenthood
8 I can't think of eight anything--darn summer colds/sinus infections!!
9 years of hugs, tears, kisses and struggles.

I love you, Jay. Happy Anniversary! Here's to 90 more! (Years, not children. I'm already ready for the "Mommy's Little Vacation" asylum.)

Oinked Too Soon

Parker and Spence had the cough but no fever, Merr had the fever but no cough. Took Spence and Merr to the doc today--we had to restrain HRH to obtain a nose swab--and we're all partakers of the pork plague! Merr's fever was mostly Monday and Tuesday so it's too late now for Tamiflu. Park and Jay went to school/work Tues and today. They should really stay home tomorrow but hey, they've already exposed everyone and Parker's got a field trip to see Beauty and the Beast (He gags every time he hears the name: "Gross, Mom!") that I paid $10 for, so just Merr's missing school. The Primary program (church program where the kids sing the songs they've learned all year and say something they've learned in class) is on Sunday so maybe we'll just go to that, infect everyone, and then skip out on the rest of church for the day. Jay's had a bit of a cough and sore throat and I've just had the sore throat. I looked at all of our noses closely and none have become porcine and no one's oinking. Yet.

Round 'Em Up, Rawhide!

Herder of cats,
Wrangler of wrecks,
Spinner of plates,
Cowboy of chaos.

I've come to the realization (Ta Da!) that my little world has a determination to fall into chaos as it spins around. My central mission is to rein in the chaos and those little beings that aid in the bedlam, and create a state of order. If I stop herding, wrangling, spinning and roping, this tendency toward chaos will take over and I'll never catch up with the mess.

Ever notice how, as you're walking through the house to do something entirely different, you stop along the way to pick up bits and bobs dribbled around, straighten pillows and blankets, toss clothes in the bin, and sweep up crumbs, and it's all unconscious? You don't even realize you're doing it. Most days when Jay comes home, the house looks just like it did when he left and I swear to myself that I actually did something that day: I fought the chaos.

I'm No Award Winner

Disclaimer #1: The elementary school secretary is a crabby witch. She's grumpy and acts inconvenienced every time I call/visit for something. And it's not just my winning personality, I promise. She's mean to everyone.

Disclaimer #2: Even before children I was a nappin' queen. Can you imagine my utter need for a daily nap when I've got three wild and crazy monkeys?

Disclaimer #3: I can't think of one right now.

So yesterday I pick up HRH Merr from preschool at 11:30, we come home and have lunch. Then Nap Time! I lock her in her room (with a bungee cord--there's no other way to keep her contained.) And yes, that makes me cruel and unusual. Spence is in his cage and I snuggle down for a long fall nap. The phone rings at 1:30 but I don't recognize the caller id: "Sch & Parochial" so I ignore it. Two minutes later a friend from church calls, I ignore it--she'll leave a message, OK? Then immediately her husband's cell rings in. OK, ok, I'll answer this one.

"Uh, Misty, Parker's school called. There's been an accident on the playground and he's on his way to the hospital." What?! (FYI, Our friends are listed as emergency contacts for the school.) So I call the school and the crabby @#$%$ secretary acts all put out, like she tried and tried to call me (NOT. And since when does the school caller ID say Parochial and not the name of the school or the school district?) and Parker fell on the playground. He cut his head up in his hair, will need stitches and since she couldn't get a hold of me, they sent him to the hospital in the ambulance. I call Jay and he's out of breath from running to his car and panicked (He's a bit dramatic in a medical emergency.) Evidently the @#$$ crab only told him that Parker is hurt and bleeding from the head and is on his way to the hospital. Poor Jay! He doesn't know if Park's broke something or cracked his skull or if he's unconscious. It's just a cut and will need stitches.

I stay home with the other two and call Jay's work and our friends to explain things and calm everyone down, Jay hangs out in the ER with Parker and three stapes later, they come home. Jay's calves ached all night from running (We need more exercise, Dear.) and Parker's no worse for the wear.

So I'm a bad mother for napping and ignoring the phone call from the school. And here's pictures of Park to prove it:

Isn't my boy handsome, despite the bloody shirt and staples in his scalp? I love the closeup of his face--won't he catch all the girls in about 10 years?

And here's pictures Jay took from his iPhone in the ER.

We're Not the Jeffersons

Well, we moved! (Almost, but not really.) And to Phoenix, no less. Crazy, eh?

Jay told me a month or so ago about a job he was applying for--he's always applying and looking and scheming, so I thought nuthin' 'bout it. A week or so later, a phone interview. Whatever, I'm busy with diapers and dishes and important stuff like that. Then he tells me that he was flying to Phoenix the next week for an interview. What?! Phoenix, as in that dry desert out west, far from here, that has no water, trees or green grass? He flew out early on a Monday morning, got back late on a Tuesday night and said it went well. Holy snot, Batman! Phoenix? Then they tell him he's a finalist and they want to call references. Then they do a background check. In the meantime, I'm scoping out towns in the area, doing research online for the schools that are "Excelling" and start making calls to moving companies to get quotes. Serious, folks, serious. Can't make definite plans, or tell anyone important like his parents or my mom, until we know how soon they want us out there, what to do with this house, etc. Just waiting on an official offer...

So I'm excited, worried but mostly excited to make the move. What an adventure! And we can get a bigger house with maybe storage space and a garage we can put a car in and a wider driveway that we don't have to play leapfrog on. Bonus--lots more Mormons in Phoenix. Woo hoo! And how exciting would Phoenix be? What a big change. Then the offer finally comes in. What?! Seriously? We're supposed to move our entire lives--which we would totally do for the money, don't get me wrong--for that? With the cost-of-living difference, we'd be living poorer there than we are here! Our skinny driveway, one-car-garage/storage Cape Cod here would be $100 K more there, much less movin' on up in the world.

Very, very disappointed. Jay was excited at the job, the possibilities for advancing, I was excited for the adventure, maybe a newer minivan (I'm still dreaming of ya, Sienna!) and no snow. Bummer. No Dee-luxe apartment in the Sky-hi-hi.

More posts to come later. Maybe I'll even toss in a few pics of my posse for your viewing pleasure, including the further proof why you're a better mom than me.

Equality

Jay and I have been holding our breath, crossing our fingers over which vehicle would die first. My fabulous Ford van (2002) chugs along, leaving a trail of fumes and parts in its wake. Jay's '98 Camry, the one we bought a month before we married, sniff, since I totalled my little '92 Sentra named Sophie on the day my nephew Drew was born, sniff sniff, was making it but not by much. It needed a new timing belt and some water thing or air thing or something. Well, Jay won that bet!

His car, full of kids, limped home and sat. He promptly went searching for a replacement, deciding on another Camry (good cars). He got the parts for the crippled car and along with help from a car-fanatic neighbor, fixed it! Saved us over $1200 in labor costs. (You're such a stud, babe. That's why I married you!) Sold it and it's gone, but now we've got car payments and a snazzy, shiny newer car in the drive. Right next to my Fantastic Ford!

Now I was feeling a bit miffed since we lost a hubcap somewhere in western KY during the Christmas travelin' season and Jay hadn't replaced it yet. My helpful home teachers informed me that WAL-MART carries hubcaps. Who knew? What does Wally-World not carry? So I promptly purchased shiny new hubcaps for my FF, Jay reluctantly installed them and then shined up the tires. And I look gooood, driving my herd around in the FF. Sorry Jay, I know you're wishing you had the FF now, but you can't have it. You'll have to be content with your new '07 silver Camry that includes sunroof, Bluetooth, gazillion disc CD-player, charcoal leather interior, heated seats, radio buttons in the stearing wheel, fin on the back, sporty thingies at the bottom on the sides, and voice activated cell phone calling. Yessiree, I look good in my FF!



BTW, Jay, the cruise control stopped working last month, I never use my blinkers anymore (I like to live on the edge, baby.) and Spencer's door doesn't lock/unlock with my super-powers power lock. But I love my new $22 hubcaps and I look goooood.

Eight

More gray, less hair.
More weight, less perkiness.
More wrinkles, less tone.
More memories, less memory.
More responsibilities, less money.
More frustrations (3 in particular), more rewards (eternal).
More joys, more tough times, more sorrows, many more laughs.

July 14, 2001

More and less, I love you, Jay. I was lucky enough to find my best friend, catch him and keep him. I'm so happy I'm on this journey with you. Happy Anniversary (+1 day). I love you.

And the picture was actually taken July 21st at our reception in Lexington, but you get the idea. And I look good in this one, so it's the one I'm using. And FYI, I really wish I still had that body--I look like a super-sized version today. Kids: they ruin your body, your mind, your home and your checkbook. But they're worth it, I guess, most of the time.

A Pinch To Grow An Inch

Uno turned 6 on the 17th. I really don't think that's accurate. I'm too young and look too good to be the birther of a 6-year old. He was partied out! We had cake on the 11th at my Mom's (after the egg hunt) for him and Spence (1 on the 30th), cupcakes at school on his actual birthday, our crazy little clan that night for dinner AND a friends' party on the 18th. I thought 2 hours of 5 little boys would be plenty but Jay added an extra half-hour here and there and that last 60 minutes sure dragged along. Two little neighbors popped over so the big time-taker had to be sent home. We were scrounging for ways to keep 5 boys entertained without breaking something or staging a wrestling match.

We couldn't decide what to get him as a gift. Jay really wanted a Wii (but that was mainly for himself, I'm sure.) That's way too big a gift for a birthday so I thought that maybe Santa could bring one for our family this Christmas--big enough for everyone. Uno's always bringing home rocks and twigs and digs around in all the nooks and cranies in the house exploring (Note to Self: hide the sexy nighties better) so we went with a science kit and eye magnifier-thingie. Jay was hip on the Eyeclops but I think it takes a big of technique to focus and sit still and Uno's just got too many ants in his pants for that right now. He loves ickiness and has already made fake snot with his kit. Actually, these were perfect choices for him: a few days before his birthday I went to put something under his bed and accidently spilled some experiment he'd created: looked like barf but smelled like salsa with alot of water and string cheese mixed in. Jay got to clean that one up; I was running late for Muffins with Mom at school with Einstein.

Any More Flattery?

Friday was Uno's birthday, he's six and I sooo look good for a child that age (more on his birthday later if I don't forget or actually stop caring to try and remember to post) so we (just the Wallet, the Nose Wiper, Uno, HRH and the Messy Eater) went to dinner and then got ice cream. Unfortunately the kids don't eat free anymore and Chocolate w/Hershey's Special Dark was freshly churned so I had to get some.

I'm not skilled with hair and makeup, which Jay reminds me with his guffaws when I mistakenly look through college photo albums, but I was tired of my face and hair. Plus, I wanted to show my HOT bread-winner (but not the bread baker-that's my job) that I looked too good to be the birther of a 6-year old. I tried something new and went for flat hair and a sexy, smokey eye. Believe it or not, flat hair is tough--you don't want it to be too flat but you want it to be smooth and silky and swingy. For the eye, I went daring with a black eyeliner on top & bottom and 3 eyeshadows. Add mascara and I was set. And I looked gooood.

Jay arrived, we loaded the cattle-car and departed. I waited, knowing he was awed and struck mute by my beauty and looking for a bit of quiet to whisper sweet odes in my ear.

His eventual observation: "Misty, did you bruise your eye or something?"

Really, Dear, if you compliment me any more, I think I'll die of the overload.