2013...

has just not been my year for blogging.

Living with Carissa and Sara had had its high and low moments. There have been some definite times when Kyle and I thought that we were going to have to move out. End of our rope kind of things. Now things have lightened up considerably, and we're all getting along really well. Sara claims that I am Carissa's best friend but that Carissa just won't admit it. It's probably totally true. We spend an awful lot of time together...

Carissa and I went to the Food Fest held at Chesapeake City Park, we've snuck out for dinner, we've gone to the movies. We even road tripped in preparation for her ambush wedding.

Last week Carissa, Isaac, and myself went to Dave & Buster's and stopped off in a Halloween store. Carissa tried on a costume but it wasn't the dream which currently is Ursula from The Little Mermaid. Isaac is going to be some kind of a phantom this year. There is currently a Halloween party planned for grown-ups only, but I;m not sure how many people are coming. Kyle plans on being a pregnant zombie complete with zombie fetus coming through the belly. I wanted to go as Velma from Scooby Doo but a friend of mine had already bought a costume that I was welcome to, so I'll shall be a gangster girl.

Isaac finally got a haircut but I think I'm still partial to the longer style. Them ears, y'all!

I'm still looking for work, but admittedly not as diligently as I should. There's a babysitting possibility and maybe even my old job in retail.

I'm sure there's more to add but I least I got a partial brain dump out...

I've Been a Bad, Bad Girl

I've been away for a really long time. Ans for no good reason, I have not been been busy or otherwise engaged. I have just been trifling. We've flown kites, Isaac's flown out to Washington and come back, Kyle and I are gonna switch bedrooms, I went to Blaze's baby shower, and I'm sure other stuff I'm not thinking of right now. I need to improve, but I say that a lot.

Chespeake Jubilee 2013 Edition

After skipping the festivities last time around, we took some time on Saturday to go the Chesapeake City Park and experience the Jubilee. Unlike the last time where Isaac was afraid of some of those big, fast rides, he took to everything like a champ. If anything he was bummed that he couldn't ride more. While Kyle and the kid enjoyed being thrown around on carnival rides, Carissa and I enjoyed carnival food. There was red velvet funnel cake with cream cheese icing and frozen cheesecake dipped in chocolate. Some people go for the rides I go for the food. Kyle and Isaac didn't go hungry though, Isaac stuck with regular food and had a cheeseburger while Kyle had a lamb gyro. And now that we were reacquainted with blooming onions we are definitely making one at home.

Oh God, What Did We Do?!

We moved. We moved to Chesapeake. We moved in with Carissa, yes that Carissa. Are we crazy? Maybe...definitely. the goal is a big family cohabitation. I wanted to do the live together but I didn't want to do it in Carissa's home. My worry has been that it won't feel like my home and.... I have been completely right. There has been a high level of tension because there are things I do in the house (cleaning, organizing) that are bugging Carissa, but that she hasn't been telling me about. The house is super cluttered but I've been feeling stifled from doing anything about it. Sadly, it's making us want to move again. I really don't want to do that because moving sucks and I don't want to shuffle Isaac again. I am committed to trying to make this work. The big goal was to stay for a year and then find a house for all of us to rent. I'm just wishing and hoping and crossing my fingers that we can do this.

I miss you.....

Playing Catch-Up

Alexis got lazy.... And spoke in the third person. The only goings on here have been small but we have gone places, done things, and saw people. Getting to it...

Kyle finally (& happily) got his first tattoo. Star Trek inspired. He's super happy about it and is anxiously waiting to get another one. First he'll have to decide what he wants. Currently he's got another Star Trek idea brewing.

Miss Emily celebrated her 3rd birthday at The Bounce House and enjoyed Batman cupcakes (that she picked out herself) too. While we were there I had Kyle and Katelynn recreate a  picture I took way back when Katelynn was pregnant with Emily.

I spent a Sunday hanging out with Krystal wherein I 'shopped' at Target. We also took a tour of her & Eric's (hopefully) future home.

Still no word on if and when they'll be getting it. I'm real excited because it's a decorating project waiting to happen and no I'm not being presumptuous, Krystal has already asked for my help. I gots good taste, ya'll.

Lastly this past weekend was the Super Bowl, which if you know me you know I wasn't excited about because I have no interest in sports. But as I'm sure you know Beyonce was the halftime show and if you know me, then you know I love LOVE me some Beyonce. So I was down to go to a friend's Super Bowl party. Bey did not disappoint and I even enjoyed the game.

Hopefully I won't take so long to post again... Already slacking on my resolutions. Damn. :)

Learned While Driving

Driving the school bus has been, let's say a learning experience...

Bus drivers like to alert the police; to erratic driving, car accidents, malfunctioning traffic lights, even fights. So know that if you're driving all crazy or you and your neighbor are throwing down and a school bus passes by, there's a good chance that the po-po will be called.

They know their way around. This would be common knowledge if you stop to think about it. The school buses you see don't just drive one load of kids, they drive several and that's before you add in after school activities, field trips and mid-day (kindergarten) runs. Then add in the possibility of having done different routes drivers may have held. That's a lot of riding around in the city. In the few months I've worked I have greatly increased my knowledge of getting around Virginia Beach.

In general bus drivers are a friendly and happy bunch. This job isn't my cup of tea, but it's super nice knowing that at least some people seem really happy day to day.

Kids say stupid stuff. Examples: 

• "If you sit in my seat seat, I'm gonna sit on your lap. No homo." - male middle schooler
• "What have you ever given me?" "I gave you friendship!" - male middle schoolers
• "How do vegans even live?" - female high schooler
• "My dad just told me that they guy who plays Mufasa is the guy who played Darth Vader! I watched Star Wars and was like 'Oh my God!'" - female high schooler
• "Man, when we have a family reunions they are bloody!" - female elementary schooler
• "I'm gonna get wasted tonight! My teacher gave me a whole bottle of Sprite!" - male middle schooler

At least the job can be entertaining....

Why Resolutions, Of Course!

Like everyone else I have goals I'd like to accomplish and New Year's is the time for composing some resolutions. While I know firsthand how likely I am to meet my goals, it's hard not to at least give it a go, so here goes!

source: https://www.eheandme.com/news_articles/549615774

• Start taking better care of myself. This is a pretty general statement to include the obvious eating better and exercising that goes hand in hand with the ever popular lose weight resolution but also includes taking my medication regularly, taking vitamins, appearance related hair & skin care.
• One entertainment item at a time. With my laptop usually mere feet away it has become habit to start watching TV & then pick up the computer. Neither thing gets all my attention so I miss parts of the show or movie & even blog posts end up taking way longer than they should. Most times I'm not even doing my "work" of writing posts or editing photos, usually I'm just browsing Pinterest or Facebok which can always wait.
• No more false modesty. I'm proud of my artistic abilities, so to say it's nothing is a lie.
• Eat better. I know that I mentioned it already but here's where I get more specific. The aim is to eat more protein, less carbohydrates, and to eat less processed food.
• Move more. Again to be specific... I have free time in the day where I could go for walks or do an exercise video in the house. I need to work the body I have. I'm only getting this one so I'd better take care of it. I'm too young & frankly fed up with being winded from simple tasks. the mark I leave on this world should be more than my asses' indention on the couch.
• Live on a budget. This does not mean living poorly. It means the opposite. It's knowing where the money goes. It would mean actually having money because we didn't waste gobs of it on who knows what. Having the bills paid on time and not scrambling to get funds together to avoid turn offs or calling up for extensions.

It's gonna take a lot of determination to make these resolutions stick, but I'm game to try. I have a big, big goal that I'd like to achieve (good friends, should know what it is) and some of these goals are important to making it happen as well as affecting how life is after. So fingers crossed!

2012 In Pictures

Consider this a wee year in review post. With the added bonus of all the pictures being never-before-seen (at least I hope)!