Friends by numbers

Total number of weddings we went to in 2010: 3
Total number of weddings we were invited to in 2010: 5

Total number of friends engaged in 2010: 1 (YAY!!)

Total number of friends who are pregnant and due in 2011: at least 7

Charlaine Harris

Any fans of True Blood out there? I've read half of Charlaine Harris's books that created the show. I call them the Sookie Stackhouse series because each book has a different name, but features her has the central character. The other day I started reading another one of her series on my bus ride home. This new series is about a woman named Harper who is a psychic and travels around, helping local police/officials by finding missing people, bodies, and cause of death. I don't know why, but as I was reading the book, I kept thinking of how much I loved the name Harper.

In fact, I now want to name my first daughter Harper. Also, as a nod to my husband's Alabama roots, we can't forget the great author (Nelle) Haper Lee who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.

Now all I have to do is get pregnant. Haha.

It appears the inevitable has happened

Between this

and this

I've managed to gain back the 10 pounds I lost during my 3 day a week gym regime in Alabama. This makes me not so happy, so despite the fact that I walk 3 blocks each way everyday to get to my bus and despite the fact I do Zumba every Thursday, I will be joining a local gym. Our local Village Center has a full gym that costs only $25 a month for a year membership (which is less that what I was paying down in AL) and they offer additional fitness classes.

My lack of motivation for fitness has really been getting to me. I keep meaning to start Couch to 5k but it never happens. I was never much of a runner anyhow but I thought it would help ease me in. No luck. So I think I'm going to focus on trying to eat better & keeping up the 3 day a week gym routine here...especially during winter. Maybe as I lose weight that way, it will become easier (?) for me to pick up running.

Not much is new with us otherwise. We spent the last two or three weekends going to Open Houses to see what's for sale in the Madison area. Right now we're still staying in my parents basement while we save up a down payment and find the right house in the right neighborhood. Plus our dog is pretty happy here & has found a playmate in my parents dog. Bruce's job keeps him pretty busy and we've been catching up with various friends in the area on weekends when we can. We've made plans to head down to Alabama for Thanksgiving weekend. I hate to admit that I've got mixed feelings about seeing his family there. I'm really excited to see Christy & Brandy, but after the drama we went through with his aunt when we moved....it just kind of leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Anyhow, that's life I guess.

Remember me?

So things have been a little quiet on the posting front huh? Well my new job has been keeping me more than busy. I have been doing some form of training every day since I started almost a month ago.

Oh wow, it's been a month already! I don't want to say that the learning curve is steep, but I have A LOT to learn about evaluating credits, calculating quarters to semesters, using a new computer system, and transitioning from an office of six people to 45+ has had it's own sets of challenges.

Bruce also lucked out on the job front. He was hired on full time with TruGreen within three weeks of us being here. I would say that's pretty good timing! I also recieved a fairly substantial last paycheck yesterday from UAB which was a nice surprise. That should help our savings account recover from the shock of the move & should hopefully give us a cushion for the month.

Our next step is chosing an area of Madison in which to live. We're sort of looking at Middleton/West Madison/Verona/McFarland. Totally narrowed down right? HAHA.

One thing I have been so greatful for has been the awesome amount of support we recieved on our move back. My parents have been more than generous in letting us crash (temporarily) in their basement and I have to admit that my friends have been awesomely welcoming to Bruce as well. Despite the rough first week back (due to other drama I won't discuss here), overall it feels like we really did make the right decision with this move.

Leaving on a jet plane....

Ok well maybe in a 16 ft. Penske truck being driven by Bruce, towing our Pontiac G6. But I did hear this song on my way into the grocery store and it does apply, as we're moving out of Alabama.

TOMORROW

Tonight will be spent packing up all our big stuff so we can hit the road bright and early (by 5 a.m.) tomorrow morning. I am excited, scared, anxious, etc pretty much everything about this move. My first week looks fairly busy with training so I anticipate being worn out by Friday.

Ready for the weekend

I am so ready to hit the road! Not only am I meeting up with Alane and her adorable daughter Lindsey (to return her golf clubs), but we're meeting up in SAVANNAH! Oh my gosh, I can hardly contain my excitement because I've been dying to visit the city since before I even moved South. I think if we do return to the South after a stint in the midwest (to retire or whatever), I could totally see myself in Savannah. I mean, just look at it:

Not to mention that one Miss Paula Deen lives there. She's fab. Loves her.

I GOT IT!!!

Well it appears that this blog will have to shift topics in order to keep our family in Alabama updated on our lives because.....

I GOT THE JOB!!!

Literally after I hit the post button on my last posting, they called me and offered me the position. So effective June 7, I will be working as an International Admissions Counselor at UW-Madison. See the building below on the right? That's where my new office is located-the Armory/Gymnasium right next to the Union. It'll be moving in January, but still, what a prime location!

I'm excited about going back home for a while, but also nervous because I'm hoping that Bruce will enjoy it there as much as I do. I hope & pray that the transition for him is easy and that we can get him squared away with school & work fairly quickly!

Oh, and I'm giving notice at work tomorrow. I hate quitting and know I'll be leaving them in a bind, but I really think this is too good an opportunity to pass up.

And so here I sit...

Playing the waiting game. Ever had those interviews where they're in "such a hurry" to fill the position that the turnaround time is amazingly fast from interview 1 to interview 2? Then you sit and wait for weeks, wondering if you'll get the job? Yeah that's pretty much where I sit now. Interviewed in person, in Madison and two days later they contacted my references. Then yesterday they e-mailed me to see if they could do a follow up on the phone. Asked me for the third time why I wanted the job and told me it would be another week to two weeks until they make their decision.

In the meantime, it seem that Bruce has gotten accepted to Wallace State Community College starting this summer. He's going to take basic courses to transfer to UAB and get a Bachelor's in Information Systems. So...I'm sort of on the fence now. I really would love to be back in Madison but I'm also feeling a little bit bad about possibly asking Bruce to change his plans as well.

Holy crap...

The UW-Madison Admissions office called me last week to do a phone interview for their International Admissions Counselor position that was listed back in March. The coordinator just called me back today, and invited me to come up to Madison for an in-person interview.

Now the nerves hit!

It's a 3 hr block (2:30-5:30 p.m.) April 19th broken down like this:

1 hr with the interview committee (4 people)

Hold an info session with the office where I do a 10 minute presentation on a country (TBD) and the history of it's educational system. Time for question & answers with audience.

Informal coffee with the International Admissions office staff.

Wrap up with Director of International Admissions

OMG y'all I am so nervous. Keep your fingers, toes, legs, etc crossed that I do well and my nerves stay to as much of a minimum that they can be at..haha.

J-O-B

Well as of today I've heard nothing from UW-Platteville. But I was surprised to come back from a short spring break visit with my parents to find another Study Abroad Advisor job posted at UW-Madison. I applied for this job a couple years ago, made the cut, and was flown up for an in-person interview. Unfortunately at that time, I didn't get the job. Guess we'll wait and see what happens this time around.

2014

Bruce and I decided to take a short weekend trip away last weekend. Away from his family, away from Jasper, away from Alabama in general. So we decided to drive 3 hrs north and visit the great city of Nashville.

Et voila...downtown Nashville and the riverboat that should've been docked on the river, yet instead we saw a homeless guy sleeping on the dock.

I love Nashville. It's probably one of my most favorite cities in the south. Why, pray tell, does this Yankee, Sconnie-forever at heart girl love Music city so much? Here's why:

It's a big city that doesn't feel like a big city. Nashvegas=626,444 Madison=231,916. I don't feel lost in either city when I'm back home or visiting.

It has a trendy downtown area that reminds me of State Street. State Street will always have a place in my heart, as I've stumbled down it many a night drunk after my 21st birthday. The equivalent in Nashville is Broadway, home to Ernest Tubbs Record Shop (which is where we bought our map to stalk the stars), bars, tattoo parlors, kitchy collectable stores (think WI Dells), and many of the "honky tonks" where singer-songwriters get their start in the city

Music! I love music and though I'm not 100% in love with Country music, Nashville offers a great variety of venues and types of bands to enjoy.

So as you can see, Katie+Nashville=♥. Nashville has been officially added to our possible places to live in 2014.

Two months in to 2010

I hate to say it, but 2010 has been a giant suck thusfar. I'm now a year away from turning 30 and that's sort of got me freaked out. Do you remember when you were young and you set certain goals for yourself....like "I want to be married with at least one child by the time I'm 30." Well if I've learned anything in 2009 it's that sometimes you have to throw your age related goals out the window and go with the rollercoaster that is life.

March will be bittersweet for us this year. It's our 3 year anniversary, but it will also mark one year since Bruce lost his job. I'm not going to lie...this last year wasn't an easy one for us. Bruce has been working with a friend, but steady work is hard to come by down here (as I'm sure is the case all over the U.S.). But we're taking steps to hopefully remedy the situation. As you can tell from previous postings, I've been applying for jobs in study abroad like a madwoman; especially if those jobs are in Wisconsin. Bruce has applied to go back to school because in today's economy, having that degree is a must. He applied to UAB (which is where I currently work) for a degree in Information Systems. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he'll do well on his COMPASS exam and start classes this summer.

Luckily the stress I've been under lately has served as a great motivator for my workouts. I've been steady with my M-W-F gym routine and have lost around 11 lbs since October.

So other than that, not much new to report down here. I'm excited that my parents will be down for a little vacation in March. I can't wait to see them!!

Because I'm a glutton for punishment

I will be applying for another job with a UW System school. UW-Platteville is hiring someone in their Institute for Study Abroad Programs. Let's keep our fingers crossed on this one people.

Quick update

Well I didn't get the job at Minnesota. That puts my grand total of job rejections for 2009 at 7:

Rejected after interview:
Whitewater
Eau Claire
Minnesota

No interview/No call back or contact
Towson
East Carolina
Georgia Tech
Kentucky

So yeah. I won't lie...it's hard to get rejected from jobs in study abroad/international education when I am more than qualified for the position based on my professional and personal experiences. But I also understand that so many people are out of work right now that these universities can be picky about who they hire. Hopefully 2010 will bring something better.

Fall

Lately I've been missing Wisconsin in the Fall. The leaves change, the air becomes crisp, and you can smell winter in the air. It's not quite ready to snow yet, but you know it'll be right around the corner. I would love nothing more than to be walking the Green Circle Trail through Schmeeckle Reserve right now, only to stumble upon this

The Green Circle trail was one of my favorite parts of Stevens Point...aside from downtown of course. Special shout out to all my Pointers, as this Saturday is Homecoming! I am bummed that yet again I will not be up there to celebrate with Jell-O shots at the parade, McMosa McMorning, and whop on tap at Partner's. Pour one out for me ladies! D-Phi-E 4eva.

Other than that, not much is new. We may be going to a Halloween party and I am so excited to share with everyone what our costume is. Drum roll.....

Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar from 18 Kids & Counting! Part of our costume does include a basket or wagon carrying 18 dolls.

Quick update

If I had to summarize my life lately (well since March really), this picture would do the trick. I didn't wind up getting the job at Whitewater after all. In fact, looking back at my original post, I realize I didn't get any of the jobs I applied for! But, I'm trudging on. We still haven't gotten any final word on the restructuring plan here at UAB. In our staff meeting on Monday, we were told the President would make her official announcement in October and then we'll finally know what will happen next academic year.

Bruce had an interview with a railroad company back in August and we have heard nothing from that either. Rumor on the streets with that is that the company hired all the northern line people earlier this month and those in the southern part should hear something in the next week.

So our alternate plan #3 now is for me to keep applying to jobs as they come up and keep our fingers crossed that we hit it lucky. If I wind up losing my job, I've decided to look into applying to grad school at UW-Madison and UW-La Crosse for Higher Ed/Student Affairs. I'm hoping that the UW will grant me in-state residency based on what I've submitted thus far but I won't be submitting anything until I know exactly what's happening with my job. UW-La Crosse's program is available online so I could do that one either way.

Support our Troops

Alane had this posted on her Facebook page. He was one of her husband's Marines who was recently killed in Afghanistan & for a major bank to remove American flags off their lawn before his body was brought back for the funeral is awful. Thank goodness I closed my account with them months ago.

Pico de Gallo recipe

I stumbled across a website where you can have recipes automatically sent to you via e-mail and they include a shopping list. So far I've found a hand full of recipes that I'd actually use. Sign up at dinnervibe when you get the chance.

Those of you that know me know how much I love Mexican food. I could literally eat it 3 days a week, if not more. I came across an easy Pico de Gallo recipe today that I thought I'd share.

2 cups ripe red tomatoes diced (approx. 4 medium tomatoes)

1 clove minced garlic

1/4 cup diced onion

1/2 cup cilantro (I have an insane love for cilantro!!)

2 jalapenos diced--remove seeds and stems

2 limes, juiced

1/2 tbsp olive oil

salt to taste

Mix all ingredients together and let it sit for a half an hour. Use immediately after. Olé!

Does anyone even read this? LOL

As promised, here are a very small amount of pictures from our trip to North Carolina. You may notice that Bruce isn't in any of these...he's a Coldplay hater and I've come to accept the fact:

Want to know a fun, random fact?

Did you know that famed 19th & 20th century poet, Robert Loveman, lived in the house where Bruce & I were married? Loveman attended The University of Alabama in 1888 and wrote his famed "April Showers," inspired by the gardens around the house. Here's a picture of the house from the 1920's:
We were married on the front porch of the home and actually, it hasn't changed too much from when this photo was taken.

I'll be posting photos from our trip to North Carolina in the next blog. Have a great weekend everyone!