Music Man

Miles likes music. A lot. Lately he's been beat boxing. He beat boxes while he plays, with Dave or any other variety of place. This video is a bit long and doesn't really showcase his beat boxing skills, but it's so Miles. Things to note:

-The eyes mostly closed thing. He does that when he's kind of embarrassed or doesn't really want attention. It's so goofy and funny to me.

-The way he can hardly resist bobbing his head to Dave's beat box.

-The way we lie to our child.

Enjoy!

Red

I just wrote about jobs and getting them and Dave getting one. Well... he got one! The very next day after I wrote that actually. We are going to the red.

I don't know that I have whined thoroughly enough to properly convey how much I dislike heat. Just get me an a/c and some acclimation and we'll survive. Right?!?!

So Dave got a job in Houston, TX at St. Luke's Episcopal Health System. June 1st. Nothin' like having a job lined up 7 months in advance... except having a job lined up 7 months in advance. And let me tell you, it is so awesome.

I got over the initial "Houston? Really? HOUSTON?" a long time ago-- way before I knew he got the job. It's been very clear to me that this is where we need to go and I knew he was going to get it. I just knew, if you know what I mean. So I'm really excited and Dave is too!

A few fun facts:

-Dave said the people he interviewed with down there told him Houston is 25% White, 25% African American, 25% Mexican and 25% everything else. I don't know how legit that stat is. Probably legit.

-We will more than likely be living in an apartment again. YES!!!!

-That's really all I can think of right now. Maybe you know a fun fact about Houston?

Halloween & a Birthday

Miles was Buzz Lightyear for Halloween. He was actually a bit disappointed that we just made him wear his hooded towel as his costume. But then we found the green pumpkin, told him it matched and he was totally on board. What can I say? We are cheap. We took him trick or treating and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. Dave told him we'd go to 10 houses so he was keeping track all along the way and was fully satisfied after we hit 10. Check him out:

My birthday was the day before Halloween, just like every year. I'm 26. I feel young still. I am young still, in fact. It was a great birthday that's going to keep on giving when Dave takes me to see Les Miserables in December! Woo hoo! Happy Birthday to me.

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.