Happy Anniversary

Just so you know, this is going to be long and totally irrelevant. You don't have to read it.

Another just so you know, Dave is applying for and interviewing for jobs right now. It wouldn't start until next summer, after graduation, but it's pretty sweet that most of the students in his class will have something lined up by Christmas. Some students already have their jobs lined up! So, I guess that's why you go to Minnesota. Hm?

I was writing in my journal tonight and I found a piece of paper I'd inserted. Just something I'd written this very day, 6 years ago, before my 20th birthday (holy cow, I can't believe I got married when I was 19). I quote:

"Busy day... busy two days-- yesterday and today. I'm at work-- good ol' Promark Research. On the phones... calling Texas. They are nice there, so... it could be a lot worse. It's the hugest effort to have a good attitude about working here. I've been working here since sometime in September-- within the first week or two. I'm going CRAZY!! Dave used to work here too, but he got a real job like two weeks ago. Most of the time, I have to do something so I can keep my sanity and make phone calls and try to get surveys on the side. I was writing Thankyous for the wedding and still have more to go... but... I kind of hit the wall on that. All that's left is Denver and I'd like Dave to help me with those. It's harder when you don't know the people (yeah, pretty sure those never got written. Sorry.). Anyway... I'm basically out of things to do and read. Not much homework-- I dropped a class so I'm only at 9 credits. English, Art and History. My English class drives me nuts, Art is good and History is awesome. My teacher is really good. I like that class a lot.

Well, I'm glad for Dave that he has his new job. Working here sucks so bad. So I'm glad he only had to do it for a little while. He's much happier with the new job. Right now, I couldn't ask for more. A new job. My birthday is on Sunday, the 30th, and that's what I want. I'd be happy if that was all I got. It will be a good birthday, though... my parents and Ro are coming down for the weekend. I'm excited to see them all.

For just a couple weeks, things between Dave and I were... just kind of on edge. Dumb things got to us and irritated us and it was getting hard to be bothered somewhat often. But once he got his new job-- wow! The changes! Before we were working the same hours... same place... we were together all the time and it's just so much easier to get nitpicky and bothered when you're ALWAYS together. So things are tons better and just back to normal! It's great.

Even more great: I JUST GOT A JOB!"

It's true. I got a new job right then and there and was so incredibly happy. I read this to Dave and he said, "Look how much things have changed! Still in school!" It will end someday, and Dave will have a job by Christmas just like I got one by my birthday.

No Joke

So the heat in our apartment that I mentioned before is legit, people.

Look at my butter:

Melted not by microwave, unless you want to call my apartment a microwave, in which case it was melted by a HUGE microwave. With stairs and a bathroom and stuff.

It's only in the 50s outside. I'm melting. And so is my butter. Wah wah wah, I'm a baby.

Wait for ME!

My dinner was all but done yesterday when I opened my sour cream and revealed a furry, moldy science project (I grew up with my mom always saying "Oooo that's a cool science project!" whenever she'd clean out the fridge and find something moldy). I called my ever so kind neighbor and secured the borrowing of some sour cream and ran out the door to go get it. On my way back, I was greeted by this:

A post church stripping, mickey shoed, underwear clad Miles running to come along on my adventure.

It was pretty darn funny to look up and see Miles running toward me in his underwear in 55 degrees. Dave never even knew he left the house. And he got his shoes on because I've robbed him of childhood already and taught him to always put his shoes on before going outside. Can't go on an adventure without shoes.

And just for lots of super fun, here's a few more:

What Service!

I've whined and moaned before about Walmart. Well, life is a funny thing, and things sure do change. There are like no Walmarts out here, and especially no Super Walmarts. Target headquarters are in Minneapolis, so it's Super Target everywhere you look. I have nothing against Target. I even like it. But I always have this conspiracy theory bubbling to the surface that I'm getting ripped off a lot of the time. And when you are so extremely cheap like we are, that feeling is kind of nauseating.

When we went to Salem, the Super Walmart almost felt like home. Maybe because it was in the West and people were saying bag instead of bayg (if I can't even spell it, then there's no freakin' way that's how any human on earth should say it). Maybe it was because it was a nice one. Maybe it was just the return of the lowest price piece of mind. It's a mystery. But I actually really miss Super Walmarts.

I really love the Twin Cities and all there is to do and see. The weather is unarguably awful, but I still really like these cities. There's one place, though, where I always find myself asking, "WHERE AM I???"

It's Walmart. Walmart on University and Snelling. It's ghetto. And it's the only one close by. So I miss the land of accessible Super Walmarts.

Anyway, moving right along:

We went to Kmart tonight. It had like 30,000 fewer people inside than Walmart, but it was still plenty ghetto complete with a cop car parked right outside the entrance. I felt so protected. Dave needed something from the electronics section and needed someone to get it. We walked to the back of the store where there was of course no one to help. I suggested standing on the counter. Dave thought maybe he could just start throwing things. There was a phone on the counter. Dave tried out the intercom. Gave it a little heavy breathing and couple taps. Then I picked up a camera which set off some kind of alarm. I thought, "look at me, I'm so smrt. I'm going to keep this camera off it's holder thing so someone has to come help us!" A little while later some kid with no identification strolls up with a bunch of keys, walks right past us to turn off the alarm. Then Dave asked for help and got it. That's all. We joked on the way home about how it was the best service we ever received. And that's how this post was born. And now please say goodbye because it's dead.

Goodbye.

A Train Ride, A Harvest

My parents came out for a visit. It was great to have them here. Miles resumed his usual love and ultimate preference of my mom, and we had a grand ol' time.

The only pictures I got were on this train ride. It was an "autumn colors" ride. Unfortunately, the fall colors this year haven't held a candle to last year. I've been pretty bummed about it, and especially glad that we got to see last year. So I think this train ride could have been much better, but it still fun to be together and take Miles.

The train was old, of course, and a bit run down with old duct tape over rips in the seats, etc. It was funny watching Miles take it in and mentally deal with it. It was SO visible on his face when he was looking at where he had to sit and what he had to touch, and it was exactly what I was thinking... kind of like an "Ew. Do I have to sit on/touch that?" Chip off the ol' block, that Miles. He definitely spends all his time with ME. Poor child.

After he got over the run down-ness, he was all pure excitement and joy.

A conductor dude came around and punched tickets. Pretty cool when you're 3, right?

There were lots of ladybugs on the train:

Miles wouldn't touch it if you paid him.

They make for cutesy hair accessories.

And Daves make for cutesy husbands.

The great and simple life of a kid:

Lucky, lucky Miles.

They had a mail car which was neat to see. There was a volunteer in there who had worked in the mail car back in the day. He told us about how they carried guns. And other things. I might not have been paying good enough attention.

After the ride we went to Stillwater, MN. It was our first time out there and just happened to be their Harvest Festival.

It was groovy. Miles really liked all the giant pumpkins.

And so we party on!

The Simple Things

I wish I could be a kid again. I took Miles out to this pretty tree about three weeks ago and he had the time of his life just running around, sitting in the leaves and whatever else. There are way too many pictures in this post, but I just can't resist. It was so fun and memorable watching him get so much joy out of something so simple. Kind of like how he runs around our tiny apartment with a mini water bottle and a ball playing "baseball." Lucky Miles. Enjoy: