You never realize when you are young how much planning and responsibility goes along with becoming an adult and beginning your own family. Suddenly, you must plan meals for yourself, buy your own food, pay bills and plan for your own future. One thing that I personally don't like to think about is what would happen to me if something happened to Matthew (or vice versa). If he passed away, how on earth would I pay for his funeral expenses or how could I afford to live without our incomes being combined. LifeInsure.com has an interesting write-up about why it's a good idea to have life insurance for the situation I just described.
We have thought about getting life insurance before but have never seriously pursued it. We both have insurance policies through our employers but that may change given the fact that we are both looking for new jobs because of the move. A site like this could really help us find out what type of life insurance would be best for us (through the use of their education center) and help us find the most affordable coverage.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Update to the Update
Apparently, I'm a tad forgetful today and forgot to add some of the most important news that I was going to report (No, I don't have a job offer, yet).
A few weeks ago, I sent in an application to Fayetteville State University to enroll in their online psychology degree completion program. Yesterday, when we got home from Jacksonville, I had an email from them talking about what to do now that I was accepted and my credits were transferred. So, I am on my way to a second bachelor's in Psychology and, then, hopefully, I will complete my master's degree in this field at East Carolina (also online).
A few weeks ago, I sent in an application to Fayetteville State University to enroll in their online psychology degree completion program. Yesterday, when we got home from Jacksonville, I had an email from them talking about what to do now that I was accepted and my credits were transferred. So, I am on my way to a second bachelor's in Psychology and, then, hopefully, I will complete my master's degree in this field at East Carolina (also online).
Update
This past Thursday, I went down to Jacksonville to take two pre-employment tests at two different places. I think I did well on the first one and know that I aced the second one because I saw the scores for that one before I left (I type 86 wpm, apparently...). Hopefully, I'll hear something back from one of those.
We went down to Jacksonville again on Saturday but got there a lot later than we planned because the brakes on my car were grinding so badly when we left in the morning that Matthew felt we should turn around. I was so afraid that we would be stuck in Clayton all weekend (combined with some work stress from Friday) that I had quite the fit of rage (which, in me, means a weepfest, yay!). Luckily, we found somewhere to fix them and got to leave by 2:30PM. We didn't get any painting done this weekend (or any photography...) but we (mostly Matthew) did get the yard mowed with a push mower (probably 1 1/2 to 2 acres, I think).
We went down to Jacksonville again on Saturday but got there a lot later than we planned because the brakes on my car were grinding so badly when we left in the morning that Matthew felt we should turn around. I was so afraid that we would be stuck in Clayton all weekend (combined with some work stress from Friday) that I had quite the fit of rage (which, in me, means a weepfest, yay!). Luckily, we found somewhere to fix them and got to leave by 2:30PM. We didn't get any painting done this weekend (or any photography...) but we (mostly Matthew) did get the yard mowed with a push mower (probably 1 1/2 to 2 acres, I think).
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Promised Recipe + Pictures
As promised, here is the post on my cooking blog about homemade fried shrimp.
Pictures from this past weekend:
Angus laying right outside Lizzie's pen while she is asleep under her pillowcase. For those of you that don't know, Lizzie has never tolerated other dogs and she terrorizes Brogan. We decided to try seeing what would happen if they all stayed together (Brogan, Angus, Lizzie and Bunny) when my mom rode with us down to Jacksonville. Lizzie was surprisingly calm, especially with Angus. She still kept Brogan on the run, though...Baby steps.
Boat on the horizon. Too far away to be able to tell what kind of boat it was, even with my zoom lens.
Parasurfers and kites in the distance. It was so windy on the beach Sunday that my camera wouldn't focus well.
Pictures from this past weekend:
Angus laying right outside Lizzie's pen while she is asleep under her pillowcase. For those of you that don't know, Lizzie has never tolerated other dogs and she terrorizes Brogan. We decided to try seeing what would happen if they all stayed together (Brogan, Angus, Lizzie and Bunny) when my mom rode with us down to Jacksonville. Lizzie was surprisingly calm, especially with Angus. She still kept Brogan on the run, though...Baby steps.
Boat on the horizon. Too far away to be able to tell what kind of boat it was, even with my zoom lens.
Parasurfers and kites in the distance. It was so windy on the beach Sunday that my camera wouldn't focus well.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Job Hunting Update
Got a call on the way in to come in and test on Thursday morning for a social work job. This is great news to me since I am hoping to go back to school in the fall to pursue a degree (a second bachelor's) in psychology so that I can maybe go into the social work field.
The Reason I Wanted To Move
Saturday, we went to Grandmama Pittman's for our monthly family dinner. I made fried shrimp from Grandmama Morton's recipe to take and they were a big hit. (I'll be posting that recipe with photos on my cooking blog sometime later tonight).
When we got back home after the dinner (around 10PM), we noticed there was a car backed into my grandmother's side of the driveway with it's parking lights on. Matthew blocked the branch in the road so that the car was blocked in and the car drove up to us. It was a sheriff's deputy. He told us that someone had banged on grandmama's front door and she had gotten scared and called 911. I don't blame her at all for doing this since she is there all alone with no one really close by her (though, I do wish we'd been home).
We parked and I was going to walk over to check on her while Matthew went to get the dogs. I heard something bang and thought someone was banging on her door again so Matthew forgot about the dogs and ran over to her house. I ran behind him with my cell phone flipped open, ready to dial 911. We needn't have worried that time. It was her coming out of her back door (the storm door bangs) to meet us in the yard.
Matthew went and let Brogan and Angus out and took them around her house sniffing for someone but didn't find anyone (the sheriff deputy had already checked the place out). She told us the deputy didn't find anyone or anything but he did see two cars flying out of the access road beside her. One of which was towing a boat. We don't know if that had anything to do with the banging or not but it had to be someone who didn't know her to bang on her front door.
She seemed calm and not afraid when we left and we went back to our house and checked to make sure that our doors were secure and everything. As much as I'd been looking forward to sleeping in our new, comfy bed. I barely slept a wink.
When we got back home after the dinner (around 10PM), we noticed there was a car backed into my grandmother's side of the driveway with it's parking lights on. Matthew blocked the branch in the road so that the car was blocked in and the car drove up to us. It was a sheriff's deputy. He told us that someone had banged on grandmama's front door and she had gotten scared and called 911. I don't blame her at all for doing this since she is there all alone with no one really close by her (though, I do wish we'd been home).
We parked and I was going to walk over to check on her while Matthew went to get the dogs. I heard something bang and thought someone was banging on her door again so Matthew forgot about the dogs and ran over to her house. I ran behind him with my cell phone flipped open, ready to dial 911. We needn't have worried that time. It was her coming out of her back door (the storm door bangs) to meet us in the yard.
Matthew went and let Brogan and Angus out and took them around her house sniffing for someone but didn't find anyone (the sheriff deputy had already checked the place out). She told us the deputy didn't find anyone or anything but he did see two cars flying out of the access road beside her. One of which was towing a boat. We don't know if that had anything to do with the banging or not but it had to be someone who didn't know her to bang on her front door.
She seemed calm and not afraid when we left and we went back to our house and checked to make sure that our doors were secure and everything. As much as I'd been looking forward to sleeping in our new, comfy bed. I barely slept a wink.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Interview Update 2
I had the second of my phone interviews today with an insurance company in New Bern. This is kind of an HR-related position in that it involves employee benefits but instead of dealing with employees about their benefits, I'd be dealing with HR people so that would be an interesting change. This position had a much more reasonable salary range and they seemed to have good benefits and incentives. They would also pay for me to take a course to become a licensed insurance agent since that is a job requirement.
She said that I should hear back from her late next week. Cross your fingers for me!
She said that I should hear back from her late next week. Cross your fingers for me!
Interview Update
The phone interview from last night went really well up until she got to the "What are your salary requirements?" question. I told her what the minimum I could accept was and she told me they were looking to pay $10.00 an hour (for an office manager...). She sounded disappointed that my requirements were higher than that but I'm not sure who she expects to fill such a role for such a small salary...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Interviews
I have a phone interview today at 4:45PM and another tomorrow at 12:30PM. Please wish me luck.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Changes in the Service Industry
In this age of rising prices everywhere we look, I remain bewildered at the decrease of customer service I keep seeing within the service industry. As prices rise and our salaries remain at the same level, fewer consumers are going out to restaurants or shopping. Personally, if I want to spend my hard-earned money on something frivolous like going to a restaurant for dinner, I want that experience to be more special than standing in line to pick up my own food or refill my own drink. (I also think that self-checkout lines are ridiculous but that is a rant for another day).
Imagine our surprise last night as we made the silly decision to go out to what used to be our favorite seafood restaurant in the Triangle area, Kemp's (this website has been under construction for quite some time), and found that the entire atmosphere of the restaurant we loved had changed. (Our first clue should have been that the parking lot was empty at prime dinner time). The last time we had been to Kemp's was several months ago, but we were greeted and seated by a friendly hostess and we had prompt and above average service from our waiter (not to mention the pile of tasty food that we got out of the deal). Last night, we walked in and, instead of a hostess stand, there was a counter full of cash registers and a huge board with the menu on it. The kind of thing you would see at a fast-food restaurant but they certainly didn't have fast-food restaurant pricing. We walked out and went to the Mayflower in Garner, instead, where even though the food isn't as good, the service was outstanding.
This morning, I got online and read the reviews of Kemp's on Citysearch (and even added my own) and was not surprised by what I found. The Kemp's we had enjoyed so much before was now reduced to a fast-food restaurant with styrofoam (Also, I can't understand the change to disposable utensils, plates and cups. Even with the restaurant using less water and helping with our recent drought, those things are going to be sitting in a landfill for how long?) plates and utensils. I don't think we'll be back.
I understand that businesses as well as consumers need to cut costs at this time because of our declining economy. However, I wish that restaurant owners would understand that if I wanted to get my food and my drink myself instead of being waited on, I would have cooked at home.
Imagine our surprise last night as we made the silly decision to go out to what used to be our favorite seafood restaurant in the Triangle area, Kemp's (this website has been under construction for quite some time), and found that the entire atmosphere of the restaurant we loved had changed. (Our first clue should have been that the parking lot was empty at prime dinner time). The last time we had been to Kemp's was several months ago, but we were greeted and seated by a friendly hostess and we had prompt and above average service from our waiter (not to mention the pile of tasty food that we got out of the deal). Last night, we walked in and, instead of a hostess stand, there was a counter full of cash registers and a huge board with the menu on it. The kind of thing you would see at a fast-food restaurant but they certainly didn't have fast-food restaurant pricing. We walked out and went to the Mayflower in Garner, instead, where even though the food isn't as good, the service was outstanding.
This morning, I got online and read the reviews of Kemp's on Citysearch (and even added my own) and was not surprised by what I found. The Kemp's we had enjoyed so much before was now reduced to a fast-food restaurant with styrofoam (Also, I can't understand the change to disposable utensils, plates and cups. Even with the restaurant using less water and helping with our recent drought, those things are going to be sitting in a landfill for how long?) plates and utensils. I don't think we'll be back.
I understand that businesses as well as consumers need to cut costs at this time because of our declining economy. However, I wish that restaurant owners would understand that if I wanted to get my food and my drink myself instead of being waited on, I would have cooked at home.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Shopping Shopping Shopping
Sometimes I think that it would be great to have a site where I could just say "I'm looking for a casual sweater" and it would crawl the Internet and show me everything that was available based on my specifications. ShopWiki is a service that tries to do just that. On this front page, you are offered several categories. By clicking on Parkas, I can see a listing of parkas available at many stores plus I can narrow my search by price, brand or color!
In addition to offering great shopping choices, Shopwiki also has a lot of information about clothing on their site. For example, on the girls' clothing site, there is a long explanation about sizes and how to pick the best size for you. They also offer a guide on casual clothing vs. dress clothing. The casual guide on the girls' clothing site even goes so far as to point out what types of shorts would be more appropriate for school and breaks down athletic shoes into different sports for the convenience of the shopper.
I think I'll definitely be bookmarking ShopWiki for the next time I'm looking for a gift or some other hard-to-find item like indestructible rubber dog toys.
In addition to offering great shopping choices, Shopwiki also has a lot of information about clothing on their site. For example, on the girls' clothing site, there is a long explanation about sizes and how to pick the best size for you. They also offer a guide on casual clothing vs. dress clothing. The casual guide on the girls' clothing site even goes so far as to point out what types of shorts would be more appropriate for school and breaks down athletic shoes into different sports for the convenience of the shopper.
I think I'll definitely be bookmarking ShopWiki for the next time I'm looking for a gift or some other hard-to-find item like indestructible rubber dog toys.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Picture Post
C'mon...you knew it was coming.
Master bedroom finished, view of bathroom wallpaper
Master bedroom finished
Master bedroom finished with new bed
Lazy Brogan
Lazy Angus
Master bedroom finished, view of bathroom wallpaper
Master bedroom finished
Master bedroom finished with new bed
Lazy Brogan
Lazy AngusPhotos of the miniature horses and goats that Matthew's parents own can be found here. (There are fifty pictures so I didn't want to link them all!)
Fix It, Mommy!
Friday night, we went to the grocery store in Swansboro to get something to fix for dinner that night and breakfast the next morning so that we would be less likely to spend a lot of money eating out this weekend. It turned out that T-Bone steaks were on sale, so that is what we ended up with.
After dinner, we'd saved the bones for Brogan and Angus. Matthew took Brogan outside to eat his and I kept Angus with me in the kitchen. Brogan apparently sailed right into his and Angus ate most of the meat off of his bone right away. When he tried to break it, however, he ran into some difficulty. He tried a couple of times but then he gave up and brought the bone to me with a "Help me, Mommy" look on his face. I laughed at him and told him to just eat it and sat down at the table and he brought it to me again
and put it in my lap. I gave it back to him and told him I couldn't fix it for him. He then caught sight of Matthew in the doorway and threw it on the floor as if to say, "Fix it for me, Daddy."
We laughed at him but we did finally end up taking the bone to the storage building and breaking it into manageable pieces. Angus chewed on it for a good long while (out in the twilight in a patch of clover) after that.
After dinner, we'd saved the bones for Brogan and Angus. Matthew took Brogan outside to eat his and I kept Angus with me in the kitchen. Brogan apparently sailed right into his and Angus ate most of the meat off of his bone right away. When he tried to break it, however, he ran into some difficulty. He tried a couple of times but then he gave up and brought the bone to me with a "Help me, Mommy" look on his face. I laughed at him and told him to just eat it and sat down at the table and he brought it to me again
and put it in my lap. I gave it back to him and told him I couldn't fix it for him. He then caught sight of Matthew in the doorway and threw it on the floor as if to say, "Fix it for me, Daddy."We laughed at him but we did finally end up taking the bone to the storage building and breaking it into manageable pieces. Angus chewed on it for a good long while (out in the twilight in a patch of clover) after that.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Picture Post
Brogan
Crazy dog tugs on rope
Playing with the rope
Sit. Stay.
Angus sleeping.
Blue master bedroom (tape still on and still needs a coat) with red bathroom.
Blue room.
Blue room.
Emerald Isle
Pelicans
Pelicans
Birdies
Sandpiper
Ocean
Emerald Isle
Pelicans
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Blast from the past.
In a conversation with a friend today, I ended up thinking about when I used to get my hair highlighted. I did this for a year or two up until I had to get my passport photo taken for my trip to France in June 1998. I ended up blonde on my passport (I'll try to find and post the picture one day).
Anyway, I remembered there were pictures of me with blonde highlights on my first website. Be sure to check out the biography and Michael Crawford pages.
Monday, May 5, 2008
A Ghost Story?
As usual, we went down to Jacksonville this weekend to work on the house. Yesterday morning, I was lying on my air bed watching a DVD (Good Neighbors was a funny Britcom, by the way) on the laptop while Matthew was in the shower. Angus was lying on the floor next to me chewing on his bone and Brogan was standing in the doorway.
Something caught Brogan's eye and he looked up in the top corner of the room behind me. He scanned all the way across the room (I followed his eyes and head moving). I looked behind me and didn't see a thing (I was expecting a spider). He growled, which is something he rarely does unless he truly sees something, and backed out of the room.
He came back in and the same scenario repeated. This time, though, when he backed out of the room, it took some strong coaxing to get him to come to me. When he sat down beside me, he was shaking...
My mother's theory is that he saw my grandfather (who was a painter and who passed away in 2000) who was coming to inspect our latest paint job.
Something caught Brogan's eye and he looked up in the top corner of the room behind me. He scanned all the way across the room (I followed his eyes and head moving). I looked behind me and didn't see a thing (I was expecting a spider). He growled, which is something he rarely does unless he truly sees something, and backed out of the room.
He came back in and the same scenario repeated. This time, though, when he backed out of the room, it took some strong coaxing to get him to come to me. When he sat down beside me, he was shaking...
My mother's theory is that he saw my grandfather (who was a painter and who passed away in 2000) who was coming to inspect our latest paint job.
Friday, May 2, 2008
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