Working in Seattle

So - we are working in Seattle for the next few days - and though Chemical Passivation is not the sexiest of jobs - it can be a lot of fun when you are with family working on something productive and fulfilling - right?  Every time we come out on a job there is an adventure - (Ok - almost every time.)  Naw - it is every time.  Just depends on who is with us for the severity of the adventure. 

 Most of the time SOMEONE (Ahem... Doc) will set off an alarm.  Typically it is the fire alarm in their Extended Stay room -  but this time it was an alarm in the facility.  Either way, there will always be an alarm that goes off - I'd put all of my perdiem on it.

Also - We have our imaginative co-workers that are always looking for ways to have fun (or places to sit down) -  that's is really the most important part - sitting down - because it REALLY hard work standing all day long - and I do mean REALLY hard work.  (And hot - in these bunny suits - sitting by hot hoses - it gets Hot Hot Hot --Not cold)

Doc then takes the time to make sure that everything is looking good with the systems - It's gotta look it's very best, or we aren't moving forward at all.  (And we always like to move forward)

1.   Also - the food here - is TO DIE for. :)   (Actually, I whipped that deliciousness up all on my own - and the best part is that no one died from eating it).    It is true - you do have to get creative on a 2 burner stove - and our dishwasher is probably the loudest dishwasher on the entire planet, but it does work.  Even better than all of that goodness is that my roommate knows how to cook - so i haven't had to get too creative on what to make this time around.  Typically it's a Hungry Man TV dinner and some ice cream to get me by for the week.  This time I'm livin' high on the hog (in a manner of speaking) - and I haven't bought a whole bunch of food that is going to waste. :)

The Key is in Hand

There it is!  THE KEY!  

Bum Deal - I got the key this afternoon and then 30 minutes later I had to be on a plane to Seattle.

SO - Beta 4 made it into the house - and that was about all before I had to vacate the premise and head to the Airport.  The Misses will have to move everything on his own (with the help of the kids and some relatives and the Ex) But, that is practically on his own, right?  

The only really awesome part?  Well, I think that the Lord is looking out for our marriage, because I know that I would be there nagging him the entire time - and he knows that I would be nagging him the entire time - so the Lord said "Hmmm, I think that you are not going to get the key until just before you have to leave" , and though that was a bum deal - it (I am sure) will save us in the long run. 

Til' next time!

Alas! We are Moving!

So - isn't this an interesting turn of events.  Today was AWESOME!  Why  ?? Because Rick and I finally bought our first home together!

OK - I know - I truly wanted to give the secret away on the last post that I made, but I also didn't want to get my hopes up and then have them dashed at the last minute.  So, naturally, I waited.  First - I had decided that I would wait until the inspection was completed.  Then, I figured that I better wait until the appraisal was completed.  However, I finally settled on not getting excited until I had signed the paperwork for the property.  Today - we did that - so now I get to let everyone know! 

A few things about the home - mainly the reason that we decided on this particular property  - It was the first one that we walked thorough that I didn't want to knock out a wall to make it different or better in any way (we were pretty certain that was a sign).  But this particular home is also large enough for all of the kids, and It had enough bathrooms that I wouldn't have to share.  (I did not want to have to deal with sharing with teenagers around the home).  So, we don't have to now.  And it is in a fabulous neighborhood.

We were financed by Ran Life - Tim Barnes - and he was FABULOUS!  I highly recommend that everyone use him.  (no, really - it was awesome).  

And then the sad part - so, we closed today - but then I leave tomorrow for a week.  BUT - that is the only sad part - because while I am away, the misses is going to move stuff and paint (which is fabulous because I won't even have to do that part) and by the time I come back it will be mostly done. SEE - how exciting. :)

Anyway - I am sure that there will be updates as we continue on - but I wanted to share the glad news. :)

You are all AWESOME - thank you for helping me achieve one of my new year's resolutions. 

Delightfully Delicious Dump Cake

Recently the Misses and I have decided that we needed to go on a financial diet - and with that it means that we also need to eat at home more often.  Why in the world would I want to do something like that though when there are so many tasty restaurants out THERE, in the big world, just waiting for me to come and be a patron in their delicious feeding location?  Fine eating establishments that would be much happier doing the dishes for me, than I would be doing dishes at home.  They can mess up their kitchen (And I will be happy helping them make that mess) Instead of having the mess in my own castle.

Unfortunately, there are larger goals in the works.  We have big dreams and plans, and with those dreams and plans comes fiscal responsibility - (Thus the financial diet).  Then we also have to be aware that the word "Diet" incites all kinds of delicious things running through my head that I shouldn't have.  When the dust settles, all I can think about is dessert.

So, tonight I was looking for something easy - something Tasty - something Dessert-like.  And I found this Recipe for Peach Dump Cake -

I have only made ONE "Dump cake" in my entire life.  And it was pretty good.  I could have made it again, but I was just not feeling up to the pineapple and angle food that I had previously made.  So, tonight I found this recipe instead.

IT
IS
DELICIOUS!

And it was super easy, fast, and only required three ingredients - Cake Mix, Peaches, and Butter.  SO - STINKIN' GOOD!

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the tasty, super easy recipe.

Until Next time!

Wait for it. WAIT FOR Iiiiiit!

EEEEEP!  I am so excited - but I can't fully say why because I totally do not want to Jinx myself - BUT, I am so freakin' excited!

I'll give you a hint - or two - or three.

First one - I can paint it whatever color I want

Second one - "What's that sound or lack thereof?  It's the sound of silence."

Third one - Most people do this 5 different times in their lives.

OK - OK!! There will be more to come - I don't want to just put everything out there only to be Jinxed! (I mean, look what happened to the Broncos)

I resolve - 2014 Here I come!

I did - in fact - see this on Pinterest - So I decided that I was going to retype it, and turn it into a monthly thing instead of a yearly goal resolution thing.  Let me explain how I see Goals for a little bit:

My dad used to tell me that Goals were like "Mile Markers" - that if I wanted to get to New York I had a very, very long way to go.  As I made my way Towards New York, the only way that I would really know if I had made it anywhere would be to look back and see how many miles I had come from.  The journey would be tedious - there would be days when I would go 4 or 5 miles, and others when I might only make it a few feet towards my goal of getting there.  However, when I was feeling discouraged, those mile markers would tell me whether or not I had come as far as I was thinking.  More often than not, I would look at the markers and realize that I had gone much further than I had anticipated - so, Goal Setting is a good thing to keep you on track, and help you to  not feel discouraged.  Mini goals give you the necessary feedback to inspire you to press forward even when you don't feel like you can go any further.  Mini goals are the key to accomplishing your dreams.

This is why people set goals with Weight-Loss (And I should know because I have had a very hard time losing weight).  But, if we never saw any success - any progress towards the final destination, then we would just give up.

I made New Year's resolutions last year - but this year I am trying a different approach entirely.  I am going to break them down to monthly resolutions - I am going to fill out this sheet each month and I am going to really work my hardest towards the goals that I set up for myself for each month.

Now you should notice that on this sheet I did not put anything in regards to weight loss / or management of weight - nor did I have anything down about money - saving money - etc.  This is not that those goals are not present - but those goals are really more of a lifestyle change than anything else.  These goals are attainable in a shorter period of time an by doing these things more often then I should hope to find myself in a better situation by December of 2014 - just because I would have changed who I am.