The End of the Boo Summer

Guess what happens with you can't sleep, it's 12:30am, and no one is on Facebook??? I blog. So shocking I know! I guess that is what it takes to get me to sit and type. Pathetic. John asked me the other day what one of my favorite hobbies was, and even though I was tempted to tell him 'spying on the neighbors' I told him blogging. Kind of sucks realizing how much I have been partaking in my 'favorite' hobby over the past few months.

I found out last week that I will be starting my new job in exactly a week. That is right....my 10 month summer vacay is coming to an end. How sad is that? I've actually been thinking of writing a pros/cons entry about going back to work, but obviously I have not done it. Throughout my days I'd think of witty items to add to the lists, but I never wrote them down, and now my mind if blank. Let me see if I can muster up the few brain cells that are REFUSING to go to sleep.

I think I will start with the CON list since my thoughts have been more con than pro once I got my OSD, (Official Start Date).

CONS
- Losing my freedom (seriously...that is how I feel. Being able to go anywhere and do whatever you want everyday is really priceless.)
- My sleeping in days are OVER
- Laying out during the week will not be an option
- Having to shower EVERYDAY (You know I've reduced my showering to 3 days a week right?)
- Having to fix my hair EVERYDAY
- Not having Facebook access for 9 hours a day (seriously...how will I stay in touch?)
- Having to schedule all appointments around my lunch hour or after work
- Not having lunch with John everyday (especially now that his office is in Pismo)
- Not driving properties with John and not being able to go to Bako (something I never thought I would say...but they were fun trips!)
- Having a boss again is going to be like having a parent again (offense parents)
- Having 1 hour lunches
- Not being allowed to wear t-shirts and sweats all day
PROS
- Having a normal income (Yeah!)
- Giving my life a purpose other than laundry, cleaning and running errands
- Using my design skills on a regular basis
- Chance of making new friends
- Get to wear my cute work clothes again

As you can tell I'm a little negative about joining the work force again, which I know is CRAZY! How can I not be EXTREMELY excited for this job? I have been looking for work for the past 8 months and have only had two interviews! Who am I kidding? I just think the reality of working 8 to 5 is setting in. I am SO used to not working...you know how it only takes a human 21 days to form a new habit? Well times that by 12!!! I'm surprised my 'not working' habit isn't permanent.

I really am thankful for this opportunity that was given to me. Had I run out of unemployment, with no job possibilities I would have been a total mess. I keep telling myself to be thankful for having the time off during my surgery...being able to go to Hawaii...being able to meet Dooce and seeing No Doubt on weekdays...visiting my out of town friends multiple times, but it's still hard. A lot harder then I thought it would be...especially when 3 months ago I was ready to head back to work. I was tired of being at home, and really missed it. Where are those feelings now that I need them? Darn.

As I've said before, I would love to be able to work part-time, because I do like to work. However after having this time at home, I have also realized that I don't mind doing chores around the house when I have the time. (Compared to dedicating your entire weekend to cleaning).

This final week of the Boo Summer is of course going to be jam packed. I'm heading to Sacramento on Wed. to visit with some friends and then over to Ukiah to visit with Rebekkah and her family. One last time while I am still a free woman. I also had big plans to wake up early (8am) and run some errands before my physical therapy appointment. However I have the feeling I'm going to need more than 7 hours of shut eye.

Sleep Please

So much to blog about and so little time. Seriously...looks like I will be back in the work force soon, although I have yet to know the actual start date. The offer letter said my start date would be June 15th, but my friend who works there would like me to start as soon as the IT guys sets up my computer. That is fine with me if she knew when that was. I know it's not her fault, but I'm just hoping for at least a few days notice. My preference would be to start on the 8th...who wouldn't like an extra week?

I feel utterly exhausted from this past weekend. (Although I know it's an accumulation of the time in Humboldt and the rest of last week). I have been going full speed for the last few weeks and I think it's caught up with me. Lucky for me my awesome husband told me I should go get a massage so I obeyed him and made an appointment for tomorrow!!

We had a great visit with the Steinbuck's for our annual Memorial Day Weekend reunion. I think the two kiddos are even more work then they were last year. I blame that and the fact that I am a year older to why I am so pooped. Even John is feeling it despite his two rounds of golf. When we got home today he laid down on the couch and within 10 minutes the dude was asleep!




We didn't do too many monumental things this past weekend, but we were going nonstop. Rebekkah and I did get in some awesome shopping just like the good 'ole days. I always forget how much fun I have when we shop together, and now we are so good we can even do it with both girls in tow.

We hit up the Carter's outlet in Pismo which was a necessity for me since I had to buy baby clothes for four babies. I still can't believe how much cuter clothes are when they are miniature. I really wanted to buy everything in the store.

We also found some killer deals at Old Navy. Their big sale was $1 flip flops which everyone was buying...except me. The checkout lady looked at me like I was crazy, and I was like 'listen lady...the plastic flip flops hurt my feet. I need cloth. I can't help it if I'm a flip flop snob. Your sale brought me into your store right?' Well I didn't go into that much detail, but she understood my point. I'm still in shock over the mark downs. I got a bunch of shirts for $2 and a sweater for $3! Then I saw some shirts for $9 and they were way too expensive for my price range. You really can't compete with $2. I even found found a new pair of dress pants that were labeled $29 and got rung up for $9! Don't you love it with that happens? I know I really didn't need any new work clothes, because a wise woman, (Molly Alice Atkinson), once told me that one of the best things about starting a new job is that your existing wardrobe turns into a brand new one since none of your co-workers have seen your clothes before. She is one smart cookie I tell ya!

Donations?

Hey all. I've dropped off the face of the earth, and now I'm back! What an incredible journey it was! Who am I kidding? I have no idea why I haven't been blogging. I thought I would have gotten back into the swing of things after my Maui entry, but apparently not. Of course these next two weeks are going to be TOTALLY busy which makes me think I really will have no time to blog. I so badly want to be the blogger I used to be. To at least blog once a week. That is really not much to ask...I know this.

On Tuesday John and I are heading up to Humboldt to visit the families and to go to Maddy's first communion. I can't wait! We will get 4 whole days to spend with everyone, (2 with each family). Normally we never get to take long trips up north other than Christmas so this is a real treat.

The following week will also be crazy because on Wednesday John and I will be heading over to Bakersfield to see No Doubt. Let me just say that I CANNOT WAIT! After seeing them 10 times this 5 year break as not been enjoyable. I believed them when they said they were just 'taking a break,' but I never knew if I was actually going to get to see them in concert again.
I am also a member of their fan club, which allowed me to purchase tickets first so we have great seats. How sweet is that? I have to show ID once I get there to pick up the tickets from will call, which allows people just wanting to resell the tickets to not be able to purchase them. I haven't had good seats to one of their concerts ever since the online ticket selling became so huge, so I am really excited.

They are even having a special chance to 'meet No Doubt' before the concert for the fan club members. However it could cost $2,000 minimum, (which they would donate to charity.)

Am I considering this?
OF COURSE!
Do I know it is CRAZY?
OF COURSE.
Do I care?
NO WAY!
Does my husband care?
OF COURSE!
Is he trying to let practically take over this situation?
OF COURSE!
Dang.

I'm really trying to figure out how I can swing the $2,000 for the meet-n- greet, but so far I've got nuttin. The auction ends on Tuesday so that gives me 48 hours. I'd like to try to use my cancer card first, but that would only work if I had some sort of terminal cancer. I know, I know...that is a horrible thing to think of, but I'm really starting to feel desperate!

Anyway, after the concert it will then be time the Grundbuck Reunion '09. Rebekkah and her family will be paying us a 5 day visit over Memorial Day weekend, and I can't wait! They are actually moving to Georgia in July for two years while Adam gets his masters degree. (More on that later).

All you need to worry about is helping me come up with a plan to A) Convince John to let me bid on the auction, and B) where to come up with the cashola. Should I start collecting donations? Selling my furniture? Sell my car? HELP!

Maui - Day 1

On the first day of our Hawaiian adventure my sister and I decided to hit the beach and find some sweet boogie boarding waves. Amy read in her book that 'Little Beach' near 'Big Beach' had some great waves...however it was 'clothing optional'. Eh...it shouldn't be that bad right? It wasn't like it was a NUDE beach right? Clothing optional sounded fine to us. She also read in the book that you had to go on a mini hike to get to the location. I was a little hesitant about that since my Achilles was still not healed, but we went anyway.

When we arrived at the beach we weren't sure where to go, and then we saw a guy on the top of this mini hill so we headed that way. Once we made it to the top the view was great!

Then when we turned the corner we saw the following sign:
Let me just say that even though it was 'clothing optional' there were hardly ANY CLOTHES being worn. The killer was it was almost ALL locals and ALL MEN! There were dudes playing football, and Frisbee. Naked...with just a knee brace on, playing Frisbee. Quite the site. As you know I am known for taking my spy photos, but I felt like it would have been disrespectful to have taken photos of the naked locals. So instead I have some boogie boarding photos for you. This first one is priceless as my sister wiping out.

This next one is of her catching a sweet wave.

We had a great time hanging out at the beach even with all the ween staring at us. We even did some snorkeling in some not so calm water.

Afterwards we met back up with the family as the dudes played golf. John had to return his rental clubs so we jumped in the car and headed to the store.

We also decided to get a shaved ice, which turned out to be one of the best ones I've ever had. Let me tell you that I have had a lot of shaved ices in my time as they are my favorite. This is one thing that I was really looking forward to going back to Hawaii. The first place we went to had the following machine, which was AWESOME, and the lady also overloaded it with the syrup. Talk about a perfect combo!


For dinner that night we headed to Roy's. John and I went to Roy's on our honeymoon in Kauai 5 years ago, and it was just as good.

Here is John in his island wear:
Enjoying our cocktails:
They even gave us warm towels at one point!

What is in the water?

I just had to say something. By the end of this year...2009...10 of my friends will have given birth. Isn't that CRAZY?? So far I've had three friends in January give birth, one in February, and one in April. The remainder of the list is as follows:

Heather - June 5th
Steph - June 28th
Brianne - Aug 29th
Jessie - Sept. 10th
Katy - Oct 12th

What else is crazy is that only 3 out of the 10 are boys. (Still waiting to hear about the Oct. baby).

Another crazy stat is that in 2007 we attended 6 weddings and now every couple are either preggers are parents except for one.

I really wanted to make these friends some homemade baby gifts, but so far I haven't done anything. I really hope I get on the ball soon!

Aloha!

I'm back and we had a fabulous time in Hawaii! I cannot tell you how thankful we are that my parents planned this trip. The first half with the family in Maui was great, and the second half in Kauai was priceless. Returning to the places we went on our honeymoon (in Kauai) where we had so much fun was awesome. I'm totally sentimental, what can I say?

However now I'm back in SLO, I'm having major post-vacation depression. I know it will pass in about a week, but it sucks! I would give anything to be living the island lifestyle right now...including basking in the warmer weather. It is FREEZING here!! Even my body is rejecting the weather. I am so sore ALL over and I don't even know what from. Oh right...it's from the cold weather! Don't get me wrong...I am trying to be positive and be thankful that I even got to go, but coming home is so hard. It happens to me every time.

There is also a slight chance I might have gotten a job, so with that looming in the horizon I'm trying to get as much done around the house as possible. Including painting the last unpainted room in our house. We will see how much I get accomplished.

For now please enjoy a few photos from the trip. I'm hoping to post about all the highlights, but as you may know, I don't always follow through.

One Reason it's Awesome to be Unemployed

Yesterday my friend Jen and I took a quick trip to the bay area to see Heather Armstrong, (aka Dooce), at her book reading/signing. I don't have time to write up a full report as we are heading to Hawaii tomorrow for a week for the first ever 'Scott Family Vacation' and I have yet to pack ONE THING! I just have to say that it was totally awesome to get to meet her, and I even got to meet her friend Maggie Mason who was there. It couldn't have been better.