job interviews and camping

Well, as you know I had two job interviews. The in San Marcos went really well, I just wasn't certified for the position. Since it was inclusion spec ed, I would need to be certified for 4-8 content. But we went ahead with the interview and the principal said she would make recommendations within San Marcos for me. The interview in Lockhart didn't go as well, I thought. I didn't think I was articulate enough and didn't give specific enough examples to questions. I won't hear about that job until the 10th of July. But for now I'm going to look around some more.

Camping
Last weekend Steven and I went camping. We were just planning on going Friday night out to Canyon Lake. Steven, Lynette, and I all went out and Kathy was going to meet us later. We got out there, went to the campsite they assigned us, and someone else was already there. These people were already set up and cooking dinner. WE went back to the entrance booth and told them what was happening. The guy went out to talk to them, but luckily Steven talked to them first (which made things go more smoothly I think). The guy talked to them and the park ranger came out. Turns out these people had gotten 4 or 5 campsites for a big family thing. We were willing to use one of their campsites that they weren't using (basically trade) because we didn't want them to have to move their stuff. Well, the other campsite they had was not big enough for 3 tents. So we went back to the entrance gate, got another couple of site numbers, went and looked at them, and alas, they were also not big enough for three tents. We went back to the entrance gate, quite frustrated and hungry at this point. The lady gave us about 10 more sites in a different area, four of which were separated. We didn't want to drive back and forth anymore so we just took the one that was on the end. She said it was really nice, secluded, and if you were agile, you basically had your own private beach. We got there and were furious. The area around the covered picnic table was all rock, not exactly comfortable camping. And the hike down to the lake was about 50-70 feet and about a 45 degree incline. We decided to camp on the beach (lots of small rocks instead of large rocks up top)because there would be more space and we would get a breeze. It turned out to be a totally awesome spot. Because of all the hassle in getting a spot, the lady at the gate had offered us Saturday night for free. So we stayed and McMains clan came and camped with us. We had a blast. Saturday morning Kathy pulled a fully intact, set-up, and functional tent out of the water. We cleaned it off this week and it just needs a couple of patches. We took Tim and Millie, who both had a great time. It was a little much for Millie though, she was sore at the end of the trip. Tim had a blast. We saw a water snake, which the dogs wanted to protect us from. We were in the water watching the snake and Millie (who doesn't like water) got in the lake and was whimpering. The dogs stopped whimpering when we got out of the water. We cooked over an open flame, had s'mores, and camp fire songs (compliments of Sean). I believe that a good time was had by all. And there are pictures, including the video of Kathy and I pulling the tent out of the lake, if you click on the Photobucket link to the left.

AllRight!!!

I have another job interview on Monday. This one is in San Marcos and is for the behavior program that I wanted to do. It's 5th-6th, but that's fine with me. I'm so excited!!!!!

WOOHOO!!!

I have a job interview with Lockhart ISD on Monday!!!!

New member of the family

We have new family member and it is a boy. His name is Tim and he has the most beautiful blonde hair. His feet are huge and he'll be a big boy when he grows up. We think he's a golden retriever or a lab mix. We found him outside of our house yesterday. The neighbors dogs wouldn't shut up so Steven went out to see what was going on. There was this very cute, very weak puppy at the steps. We gave him some cat food and water, which he greedily consumed. He was covered in fleas so I went and got some flea shampoo. Steven called the vet and we got him in yesterday afternoon. The nurse was initially worried about Parvo since Tim was so listless. The vet looked at him and said he was just tired and hungry. Since he was a stray, we got a starter dog kit that included a 5lb bag of Science Diet puppy food, a month dose of Frontline and a month dose of Heartguard. Tim the Enchanter is his full name and we never would have chosen him. He's going to be huge when he's grown. But he's so wonderful and we couldn't just leave him, he showed up on our steps and he needed someone. Today I was taking him out to use the bathroom and someone from the trailer park was driving past and said that they have a litter of puppies and they had escaped yesterday or the day before. They asked if I wanted to keep him and I said yes. (We had put up a couple of Found Puppy signs but hoping no one would call). They said that he was born on the 29th, which would make him 6 weeks old (the vet thought 8-12 weeks). The guy said please take him and asked if I wanted another. These guys were not taking good care of these puppies if they are telling the truth. But we're happy to have the addition to the family. He's taking well to the affection and food. We've already started with some basic training and he is initially recognizing our dominance. I'm sure he'll start to test us in a couple of weeks, but I think we're off to a good start.

Other news:
On Sunday Steven and I went to visit my dad and Jenni and hear JamisonPriest play at the Texas Folk Life Festival in San Antonio. We had a great time. Daddy took us out to eat on the River Walk and then we went and heard them play. There is a lot going on and next year we want to go on a Saturday so we can spend the whole day hanging out with them. We had to leave relatively early because I have to be at work so early.

The last weekend in May my mom came down to hang out with us and work on the wedding dress. I had a great time hanging out with her and doing stuff for the wedding. She started the muslin dress (to do the alterations on) and we found the fabric that is going to be used for the dress. I ordered it last week and it should be in Abilene soon. Steven and I took my mom to eat at Yanez Cafe and to Casa Maria which are two of our favorite restaurants. Mom came to church with me and we just hung out the rest of the several days she was here.

There is a new website that I'm putting my photos on. It's called photobucket and it holds 1 gig of photos and videos. There is a link to the left.

Steven has started a blog. It is mostly political. The name is Un Otro Voice.

blurbs

I know I haven't posted for a very long while. Here are some blurbs about what's been going on.

-On Good Friday Kathy, Lynette, and I went salsa dancing. We had a blast. Then my dad and Jenni came down for Easter weekend. We went to Stations of the Cross on Saturday afternoon. Then my dad, Jenni, Lynette, Steven, and I went to the Easter Vigil on Saturday night. Afterward we had a champagne and strawberry reception for the people who had been baptized. I also got Father Bruce with a cascarone, as well as Steven. hehe. On Sunday we all went to the Sunday service and then out to eat at Los Cucos. We were going to eat at Casa Maria, but they were closed. I had a great time and I was glad that I could share my church community with my dad and Jenni.

-The weekend after Easter, Steven and I helped out at the bus roadeo (yes, it's a stupid spelling) for work. When we agreed to help out by judging the contestants, we were under the impression that we would be getting paid our regular hourly wage. Two days before we found out that we were only going to get paid $50. So basically we each got paid $50 to be away from the house from 5:30 am till 3:30 to judge people driving busses through an obstacle course type thing. It was hot and I got incredibly sunburned. Steven and I just laid around the house that evening and slept in the next day. It sucked.

-The next weekend I went on the Feral Female Frenzy Weekend. There were five girls that went camping for Stephanie's birthday. There was Stephanie, Jessica, Christine, Kathy, and me. We cooked out, slept (all five of us) in one tent during a thunderstorm. Then we went down the river on Saturday. Saturday evening we just sat around the campfire and talked and hung out. Stephanie got extremely sunburned. We had a great trip. We got two fires started without lighter fluid. We also had plenty of provisions. While I was gone Steven went out and bought a dress form for me. We've named it Tabitha. My mom is going to take it home with her to use it for sewing my wedding dress. Then I'll get to use it. Yea!!! Wonderful husband.

-Yesterday Steven and I bought a motorcyle. We bought it because this summer and fall we're going to need a second vehicle because we will have different work schedules and a bike will use less gas than buying another car or a small truck. I drove it home yesterday and it was so fun. I bought a helmet and Kathy is letting me use her perforated leather jacket that provides protection but is not too hot during the summer months. The bike is a 750cc Yamaha Vigaro. I'll post a picture of it in the next few days. We bought it from some people that we work with and we got an awesome deal. This couple is really cool and I think that we'll be hanging out with them in the future.

That's pretty much what's going on. We're also in the process of getting the mobile home title switched to our name. Yea!!! We are incredibly lucky (blessed). Things have just fallen into place, even though we're still struggling to get the wedding financed and other things going.

Hot

It was 100 degrees today. Yuck!! But Steven had the wonderful idea of going to 5 Mile Dam after work. The river is really low, so we just sat in the river and talked for about 30 minutes. Then we came home and had dinner. It was nice and refreshing.

Certification Exam-Part deux

This morning I took my PPR (pedagogy and professional responsibility) exam. It took me an hour to take the test. You have 5 hours to complete the test. So now I've passed two of the three tests that I have to take. YEA!!! I can't take my Special Ed content exam until I get the official results for these two tests back.

Certification Exam

This morning I took my content exam. It tests over basic content that you should know to teach Early Childhood-4th grade. It took me an hour and a half to take the test. You have 5 hours to complete the test. Tomorrow I take the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibility Test. Click on the Flickr link to view a picture of my 'unofficial score.' Since I took it on the computer, it is scored as soon as your finished. I'll get my official score in the mail in a few weeks.

pictures

There are a few new pictures on Flickr. The link is to the left, under the recent posts link. The link just says Flickr. I'll post again in the next few days about happenings around the house.

Flickr

There is a link to my pictures on my Flickr account. To the left, under the links for Recent Posts, is a link that says "Flickr". Click on that to see pictures. I posted new pictures a couple of days ago. They are of the updates to the inside of the trailer and there are a couple of Steven, and one of the cats.

random events

On St. Patricks Day weekend I went to Dallas to visit Stephanie. She had a party, that while it didn't go as she had planned, we had a wonderful time. I met her friends Steven & Christine, Phil & Kathleen, Jessica, and Chad. Stephanie had a Limerick writing contest. They were all funny. I was going to post mine, but Steven threw mine away (on accident, he says). It was about Steven killing our neighbors dogs. Saturday we slept in, watched a couple of movies, and went to Cafe Brazil and Half Price Books. I got a book written by a monk that lives at one of the monastaries that Kathleen Norris of The Cloister Walk stayed. I got The Brothers K for 50 cents and a book with three Flannery O'Conner stories for 50 cents. I had a lot of fun and I can't wait to see Stephanie and the other girls for her birthday camping trip.

Today I went to the courthouse for my jury summons. I sat there all afternoon and I got picked to sit on a jury for a civil case. I'm excited.

Today I also made home-made wheat bread. It's good. MMMMmmmmmm.

gggggggrrrrrrrrr

I changed my template because I didn't like the way that my flickr badge set all my text way lower than the title of the post. Well, it took away the flickr badge and when I tried to put it back it did the same thing. I also lost my links and I don't think I really like this template, but apparently I had made some customizations to another template and I don't remember what they were. I don't feel like messing with it now, so deal with it. I think I might be able to at least get a link to flickr up.

I haven't posted in a while, but things are going great. Work on the house is continuing. I reposted some pictures of flickr, this time with them rotated the correct way. Once we're more settled into the house (without boxes everywhere) I'll post some pictures of how it looks now that it's painted and we're mostly moved in. We have a lot of repairs to do. Hopefully sometime soon I can quit concentrating so much on the house and put my energy into planning the wedding again.

Since this week is spring break, I didn't have to work on Saturday. Kathy and I went garage-saling on Saturday morning and I scored a table saw for $7. Steven was so thrilled. It will make some of the house repairs easier and cheaper. Steven also found a grill for cheap on craigslist.com Steven has been working this week (washing busses) and I've been helping Kathy paint the apartment and get it ready for her sister and family coming in a couple of weeks. Steven is through working so we're going to run some errands together and then babysit tonight. Tomorrow I leave for Dallas to hang out with Stephanie for the weekend while Steven is left here at home. Poor baby. :( Then it is back to the grind of driving busses.

Super exciting, I know. But that's what's been going on around here.

Moved In

Well, today Steven and I, with some help from Kathy, Paul, and Lynette, moved into our place. It is almost all painted. It will be a few weeks before we have internet access. We'll still have our computer at the McMains for a week or so and then it will probably be internet at the library for another week. Yea!!! We have a home.

Home

Well, the trailer is definitely ours. We put in the rental application for the land yesterday and we make the first payment on the trailer this week. We should get the keys this afternoon or tomorrow. Click on over to flickr to see some pictures of the outside of the house.

Update!!!!!!

Finally, an update...YEA!!!! Well, things with Steven and I are great. Marriage is wonderful (but certainly an adjustment). I was almost all the way moved in and settled in Steven's apartment, when tragedy struck. Steven already had an apartment with two other guys, P (the good roommate) and M (the crazy roommate) and the lease was until May. We had talked to P and M, they both said it was fine if I moved in until the lease was up. I moved in after Christmas and was continuing to move stuff in up until the 25th of January or so. In true Christina fashion, I procrastinated about turning my lease in until the middle of January, after we got an unauthorized tenant notice, hehe. A week after I turned in my lease application we still hadn't heard anything so Steven called and was told they were short-staffed and were behind on processing applications. This is understandable. Then Steven called the middle of the next week and was told that complaints had been made and our roommates didn't want me living there. We were surprised because we are both friends with P and couldn't imagine that he would go to the office and not to us if he had a problem. Turns out that M had been complaining that I was living there and he had changed his mind. This was around the 28th or so. Well, a few days went by and we didn't see M, we have a feeling he was avoiding us. So on the 31st I called his cell and left a message saying that we all needed to talk. He came home after work and was pissed off. He said that it was stressful enough to have one roommate who doesn't talk to him (Steven) and that he didn't need another (me). Well, the reason that Steven and I don't talk to him much is because he has quite the temper and you never know what he'll blow up about. So, it came down to that he had changed his mind and wouldn't sign to have me put on the lease. He changed his mind the next morning after he realized that we had legal recourse against him, but neither Steven or I wanted to be there or were comfortable with me being there without Steven or P being around (which happens everyday for a couple of hours). So Steven and I moved in with the McMains exactly a week ago and we have a lead on trailer that we might buy. It will be a shitty couple of months financially but we'll make it through and hopefully we'll have our very own place. So, needless to say, we're both a little stressed and pissed off, but we're making it.

We also had an interesting conversation with a couple from the home group that I go to. They don't recognize the validity of Steven and I's marriage and apparently found it necessary to let us know that we are wrong. They invited us over for dinner and we knew the conversation was going to end up in this direction. A few weeks ago, neither Steven or I went to home group. Something got brought up about us being married and this couple made it quite clear that they did not agree. I'm not really sure why they thought it was their place to confront us on the issue since I barely know them and Steven has met them twice, but that's Fundamentalists for you. After a few extremely inappropriate questions and polite disagreement, and laying out the story of our entire relationship to virtual strangers, we left. I don't feel they were open to any point we had to make. I think they just wanted us to change our minds to their point of view. Basically, our marriage isn't valid because there were no witnesses there (despite the fact that many people knew before hand and immediately after, so it's no secret that we're married) and minister didn't perform the ceremony which communicates that we think that we don't need God or the community to support our relationship (despite the fact that we told them how, without intervention from the Divine, this relationship would have never happened. There isn't a single instance we don't see God at work here.) Steven only agreed to have dinner with them so that we didn't cause a rift or make waves in the home group. The other people in the home group either agree with us, or respect us and support us since we've made this commitment to each other. I'm not really sure why I went. But, we are certainly through laying out our relationship story to virtual strangers. Isn't life interesting.

I find it very interesting that I am very confident in the decisions I've made over the last several months, but I'm facing more opposition, either from people or in the form of stress, than I have before. But, I stand firm in the decisions I've made.

marriage and Christmas

On Tuesday night Steven and I went down to the river and exchanged vows and rings. We see ourselves as married and we're presenting ourselves as such. In the state of Texas if you present yourself as husband and wife, then you are legally married. We are still having the wedding ceremony in August. I've picked out my dress, which my mom is going to make. We have the church reserved and the reception hall picked out. Hopefully we'll be able to reserve it soon. Other little details are coming together nicely. We have an idea of our budget so that makes things easier to think about. My friend Jessica gave me a 1000 wedding bargains book for Christmas and Steven has already read most of it. He's so wonderful to help out. I told him I wanted help with the planning and I don't have to persuade him, he is more than willing to help. I'm so happy that I'm married to the most wonderful, caring, and thoughtful man.
On Thursday Steven and I drove to Abilene to spend Christmas with my family. We got to hang out with Jes, my dad and Jenni, and of course my mom, Christopher, and Heather and Virginia Ann. Steven got to know them and vice-versa. They seem to get along very well. Steven and I were our usual affectionate selves and it didn't seem weird at all. It seemed completely natural for him to be there. He went back home yesterday and I'm here till tomorrow. I'm helping with moving Virginia Ann. The only thing that sucks is that Steven couldn't stay because he had to work today. I love having him around all the time and I already miss him. I had to sleep by myself last night :( But I'll get to see him tomorrow.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and has a great and safe New Year.

life changes

It seems that my life is changing all at once right now. I have a lot of personal changes that are still going on through my counseling and learning to create new ways of acting and thinking. Also, I graduated on Friday night. Finally!! Although I don't really feel an extreme feeling of completion because I'm going back to get my master's in spec ed in the fall. but it was certainly a sense of accomplishment. I never really paid much attention to my GPA. I knew it was a least a 3.75 but I graduated Summa Cum Laude which means it was 3.8 or higher. I'm proud of myself that I accomplished that.
Another huge change in my life is Steven. Three months ago I was perfectly happy with the thought that I was one of those people that God had created to not get married. Then I realize that I really like Steven. We start talking, dating, and now we're getting married in August. Hopefully it will be the first weekend in August. There is no ring or official popping of the question but we are engaged. In fact, we already view our relationship as a marriage because there is no question in either of our minds about the level of committement that already exists between us. I've already been staying with him about a week and a half, but I officially move in when we get back from our visit to Abilene for Christmas. We feel that we are married and that the wedding in August is the ceremony. We would have the ceremony tomorrow if we could afford it. But we are buying temporary wedding rings to wear until the wedding. I am so excited about this change in my life. I am so comfortable here. It's been like a whirlwind, but it also feels like I've been here my entire life. We're only in the preliminary stages of planning the wedding and I am already feeling overwhelmed. We're taking it a little at a time because we do have several months to plan and Steven is helping by taking a very active role.

Well, that's it for updates for now.

seven things

Stephanie posted this awhile back and tagged me. I usually don't do these things, but for Steph I will.

Seven Things to Do Before I Die (Lord willing):

1. Own a home.
2. Marry Steven.
3. Visit Ireland again.
4. Have and/or adopt children.
5. Make a quilt.
6. Start regualarly playing the piano again.
7. Own a motorcycle.

Seven Things I Cannot Do:
1. Play guitar.
2. Own just one pet.
3. Not cry.
4. Style my own hair.
5. Be passionate about politics.
6. Be comfortable around new people.
7. Be extroverted.

Seven Things that Attract Me to My Spouse/Significant Other:
1. His sense of humor and his laugh.
2. His passion for God and desire to serve.
3. His understanding.
4. The fact that his actions and his words match.
5. That he calls me his angel and treats me that way.
6. We communicate about everything.
7. The fact that we are completely comfortable around each other.

Seven Things I Say (or write!) Most Often:
1. Sweet!
2. Giggidy!
3. Back and forth...forever.
4. Love.
5. I'll stab you in the head.
6. Do you remember the Simpsons/Seifeld/Family Guy episode where...
7. I don't know.

Seven Books (or series) I Love:
1. East of Eden
2. The Milagro Beanfield War (not the movie Steven!)
3. Pride and Prejudice
4. Ramona Quimby Books
5. The Good Earth
6. Blue Like Jazz
7. Life of Pi

Seven Movies I Would Watch Over and Over Again:
1. Empire Records
2. The Wedding Singer
3. Search for the Holy Grail
4. Pulp Fiction
5. A River Runs Through It
6. Shawshank Redemption
7. Corrina, Corrina

exciting news

Well, I know I promised a post on Wednesday. That didn't happen but here it is. Quite a few things have happened in the last month. All of them are good but I'm saving the best one to write about till last.
As many of my faithful readers know, I have been attending St. Marks Episcopal Church and have been loving it. It has rekindled my interest and desire in God and my spirituality in general. Well, two Sunday's ago I joined the church. Sometime in the next couple months I will be starting confirmation classes.
Student teaching is almost over with. I'm am so ready to graduate. While teaching has been fun, I'm ready to stop having the two jobs of teaching and being a student. I will be sending out graduation announcements soon. I'll be walking across the stage on December 16th. But my last day of student teaching is December 9th. And the week between the two I'll be taking my certification exams.
Last weekend I took a Motorcycle Safety Course where I learned how to ride a motorcycle. Kathy and I took the class together. It is a class offered through the extending education office at SWT. I was so excited when I signed up in August, and of course excitement waned a little since the class was so far away. But I had a blast last weekend. On Wednesday I went to the DPS and now I'm a licensed motorcyclist. Now I just need to buy a motorcycle. I already have one picked out and in January when I start working again I'm hoping to buy one. Here are pictures of the bike I want and the helmet I want. The bike is a Suzuki GZ250 and it's the same bike that I learned on. It's a great bike and I want something small and inexpensive to get around town on. When I get really comfortable with that, I might move up to a little larger cruiser. The instructors of the course were surprised that I had never even sat on a motorcycle before last weekend. I only had one scary moment when the bike almost came out from under me, but it just reminded me that the clutch is your friend. But seriously, the instructors said that I was doing a great job and it came fairly naturally to me.
And now, the best news. I have found someone that I love, that I adore, that I'm crazy about. Several of ya'll know or know of Steven. We used to work together when I drove for SWT. So we've know each other for a couple years and have hung out on more of a regular basis over the last year or 6 months. After Dan moved back to New York, Steven and I started hanging out quite a bit. I knew that he liked me but I didn't want a relationship and had given myself at least a year to be single and work out some of my stuff. Mom had met him while she was here for my birthday. She tells me now that she had a feeling that there was attraction between us but she didn't want to say anything because she knew I was working on myself. Before Daniel moved to Canada he was even asking me if there was something going on between Steven and I. A little over a month ago, on October 17, Steven and I went dancing at Winston's. That night and the next day I realized that I really liked him. So of course that weekend I freaked out, started crying, and told Steven that I couldn't be in a relationship, that I would mess it up, That I still needed time to myself. He felt horrible because I was crying and because he thought I was basically telling him to fuck off. But we kept on talking almost 2 hours a night and hanging out. I admitted to him that I liked him. We went to Wurstfest a couple of weekends ago and he held my hand. I felt so silly, almost like a middle schooler. I was so excited at having someone hold my hand. He went to church with me on Sunday and stood up with me when I joined St. Marks. The next night he was helping me make beanbags for a game I was taking to school and I said something that indicated that I was thinking about a future with him. We are now officially 'together', 'boyfriend and girlfriend','novio y novia', whatever you want to call it, but definitely looking at a future together. I trust him, I can tell him anything, I can tell him my crazy thoughts as they are happening, I can tell him that I don't like something he's said or done, and he can tell me the same things. It's amazing to be in a relationship with actual communication. After grandmother died, mamma and I were looking at pictures of her and granddaddy. They looked so happy and you could tell that they were absolutely crazy about each other. Momma said that she hoped that I would wait until I found that. I of course wanted to cry because I didn't think that it was possible for me to have that kind of relationship. But I have. I have found someone who treats me like a princess and I adore him. We are crazy about each other. I don't know that I've ever had this kind of balance in my life. I'm pretty much ok with myself, I'm seeking a relationship with God, I'm not ignoring my friends, and he can be who he is. It seems like it should be surreal, but if feels more like I've finally come home. Steven, I know you are reading this, and I just wanted to say that I love you so much, and thanks for being waiting around for me.