Baby, it's cold outside!

You know, it's all about the humidity. Since moving to Oklahoma, we are now experiencing our second very rough winter. I have a coat, but I don't like. It doesn't fit well and believe it or not, it's covered in dog hair. And no matter how many times I hit it with the lint roller, it just looks like I've been rolling in the lint trap of the dryer.

99.99% of the time, I'm not cold. With relatively low humidity (compared to Louisiana), 25 degrees here is still not as cold as 40 degrees in Louisiana. So imagine my surprise today, when I was absolutely freezing. Yes, it was 24 degrees today, but we also had big, fat, sideways snow all day. With the humidity so high and the wind blowing 20-30 mph, it just chilled you to the bone.

My driver's side window froze shut, making it very difficult to go to the bank and get drive-through lunch. I opened the car door to get in and the snow blew all into the car. Oh and did I mention I was wearing a cotton sweater with a t-shirt underneath? My fault? Well, of course. But like I said, I can count on one hand the amount of time I've been cold since we moved here.

Since the low is supposed to be 15 tonight, I'll pull out the old lint trap tomorrow. If I can remember (and if the sun is up), I'll take pictures of the white covered yard in the morning. It was dark when I got home...so they'll have to wait. I don't think it's going anywhere for the time being.

I've upgraded to Turbo!

I started Leslie's Christmas present today. No, not Christmas 2008 - this is the gift for this past Christmas. It's a sweater. She knows it's a sweater and in her favorite color (purple) , but she doesn't know what it looks like. I had so many problems with my knitting needles with Aunt Diane's scarf, that I decided to fork over the money for the much ballyhooed Addi Turbo Knitting Needles.

And this set of needles is worth every penny! I know the non-knitters out there are asking what the big deal is. But the cord is flexible and doesn't kink up. Nothing comes unscrewed like my other piece-of-crap needles. And the metal of the actual needle is so smooth that the yarn just slides off like it should (not too early, not too resistant to cause a snag).

They are just perfect!!! So now to T's horror, I must have them in every size. Honey, if you're reading this, don't worry - I have no intentions of going out tomorrow to start purchasing new ones!

Now I have to brag on this yarn that I'm using. It's a semi-solid purple by Dream In Color. That means that it's an overall solid color, but because it's hand-dyed, the color is deposited differently throughout the yarn. It's amazing! And it creates the most even perfect stitches. I'm totally thrilled. This is a pure joy to knit so far.

This cracks me up...

....because her tongue is so much larger than this picture. It's like she's sticking her tongue out at me and saying "nanny-nanny...boo-boo".

The "Au Natural" Sister

Ever since I found out I was allergic to everything, I've slowly been weeding out as many chemically toxic things from my environment that I can. I tend to favor homemade, all natural products over mass-produced, petroleum derived goods. Not only is it good for my health, but I'm doing my little part to help the environment.

I used to work (as of last week) with Steph from Steph's Diaper Factory. She creates (and uses on her son) cloth diapers. When Leslie started to complain about the cost of diapers, I thought she might like to give it a try. Cloth diapers have come a long way from your grandmother's cloth. So I bought her 2 for Christmas, along with all the stuff she'd need to get started (inserts, all natural diaper cream).

They really should be tried for the cute factor alone, but Leslie's story can be found on her blog. Below, you'll find Navarre modeling her diaper. She appears quite happy in it.

I guess what I found so funny is that I'm the "au natural sister". I don't have dread locks. I do shave and I do wear makeup (most of the time). And if you know me, I don't think you'd ever think of me as "natural" but I'll take pride in that title as I put my purchases in a bag I brought with me from home. No plastic for this au natural sister!

Everything has a price

The last couple of weeks have me very reflective. Turning your life upside down will do that to you. As you now know, I've changed jobs. The new job is a complete lateral move. And some people might consider it a move down because the title isn't as fancy as the other job. The type of work is the same. The commute is the same. The money is only microscopically different. The stress? Well, let's just say that's taken a nose dive. So if we correlate stress level with pay level, my physical and mental health is worth a $2000 pay cut. In the grand scheme of things, that's well worth it. I don't care what my title is.

What's the price of piece of mind? Well, I was once racing to return a rental car and catch a flight. I wasn't sure I'd make the flight at all, much less have time to fill up the gas tank on the rental car. I returned it empty, willing to pay the higher priced gas and feeling better about my odds at making the flight. Turns out the price of piece of mind is $11 a gallon.

15 minutes my a$$!

I'll cut to the chase. In April, I will have been married for 2 years. I have not taken the time to have my name legally changed on my social security card. I just didn't want to take the time to go down there and up until now, it didn't really matter.

I found the new job through a temp agency and I'll be employed through them for the first 8 weeks. They need two forms of identification to fill out my paperwork. Well, they wouldn't take what I had because my drivers license didn't match my social security card. Ok, whatever. I didn't have any allowable time off from the other job, so I never went. Honestly, I forgot.

Yesterday the temp agency calls me and says they don't have my stuff, please bring it by today. Ok, no problem. I wake up and it's pitch black and I don't want to wake T by turning on a light. So I trip and stumble my way around the room and over the dog (thanks, Rufus for sleeping right in the MIDDLE of the floor). I leave a little early since I figure I might have to take a little longer than an hour at lunch.

The ground looks wet and it's cold, but I'm having no traction issues. I just assumed it's water until I try to turn into the Sonic on the downside of a hill and slide into the parking lot sideways. Hello, ICE! Normally during icy conditions, I avoid the interstate but I'm not having traction issues, I'm almost there and I'm in a hurry. BIG MISTAKE! Traffic was bumper to bumper the entire way to work. I literally drove 15 mph the whole way. So it took me over an hour to get to work. New boss was completely cool with it....

Lunch time comes and I head to the Social Security office. Every person I know who has gone in the last two years says the same thing. "I was in and out in 15 minutes! It didn't take any time at all. It's not a big deal." I walked in an got my number. I was number N339. They were currently serving number N286. Two hours later, my number was called and it only took me 6 minutes to get my.....

....letter stating that I had applied for a new card! SERIOUSLY! TWO HOURS FOR A LETTER!!!

Ok, so I take my LETTER to the temp agency to have the snotty receptionist tell me that it wasn't acceptable. So I said, "well, will this affect my paycheck." She replied with attitude, "You're not allowed to be on the job without it." I smirked in reply, "well, since I started yesterday, maybe we can work this out."

She didn't like that. But we worked it out. HA!

Lesson Learned #1: The next time someone says it only took me 15 minutes to get my new social security card, smile, nod and promptly disregard whatever they say.

Lesson Learned #2: The new boss rocked. She didn't even care one bit that I had been gone for THREE HOURS! I asked if she wanted to dock my time and she said that she didn't. LOVE THE NEW BOSS!

First Day Success!

The new job is going extremely well so far. The phone rang a total of 10 times ALL DAY, so that rocked! I figured out an actual problem and got a literal pat on the back. T's home from Vegas and I bought my new ipod. All in all, it's been a FABULOUS day!

It's odd though. I'm sitting there in my new desk still thinking that this is only temporary and that I'll be back at the other job. My mind is even still there in some ways, wondering about stuff. Will that go away? It's just a very strange dynamic to me. I guess I just put so much of myself into the previous job that it's hard to myself from my job.

I'm working on it though. But in more fun, exciting news, Navarre is now eating cereal and loving it! She was getting so excited that she was shaking her arms and laughing and hitting the spoon out of Leslie's hands almost. The video was quite funny.

Wish me luck on day two...

Procrastination Sunday

I'm supposed to be cleaning. I'm supposed to be doing laundry. I'm supposed to be doing anything than sitting here on the sofa watching tv with the computer in my lap. I just haven't found the motivation.

I'm not sure where I will find it either. So maybe if I pick some stuff up, I'll find the motivation under something....

we'll see....

A Saturday with no job

Technically, I'm unemployed this weekend. I'll start the new job on Monday and I'm not sure I've even mentally left the other place. So I spent this unemployed Saturday spending money. HA!

I didn't go nuts. It was less than $50. I attended the Oklahoma Home & Garden Show and found some great stuff. I couldn't help myself at the "Made In Oklahoma" section of the show. So I got all natural bath salts and a soy candle. I also got a great Fleur-de-lis plaque for the wall. I'm just not sure where I'm going to put it yet. And lastly, I got a rubber brush to get stubborn dog hair off of furniture.

After our jaunt around the fair grounds, we made our way to the world famous Cattleman's Steakhouse. I'm not going to lie, I think it was a very good steak. But the best I've ever had? not quite... but it is the best I've had in Oklahoma, so I guess that's worth something. And for the money you spend, yep, it's a fabulous deal.

I like a good steak, but by no means have I travelled the world to find the best one. But Charlie's in Orlando and Ruth's Chris in Baton Rouge are two of the very best I've had.

It's tough being jobless... I think it's time for bed.

What a week!

I know I haven't been around, but I do have a good excuse. Last Monday, my first day back at work after the holidays, I put in my 2 week notice. That seems like an eternity ago now. I've tried to get a ton of stuff wrapped up and some things finished ahead of time for future projects. So I've been working a lot and it really hadn't hit me that I'd be leaving.

Last night, T and I boxed up pictures and the bulk of my personal stuff. You wouldn't believe what you can collect in an office in a year and a half! It still didn't hit me then. Not even this morning!

But as I FINALLY finished my last bit of work and pushed my last piece of paper, I started to feel sad. It was late and I was alone in the building, just like I'd been many a night before. I couldn't help it - I started to cry. I was the one who decided to move on, so why was I so sad?

I guess because this job is all I've known in Oklahoma. The majority of the people I know and the friends I've made, I've met while working in this job. I worked with a lot of great people in a lot of different areas of my job and I will miss them.

But fear not...the future holds more challenges and opportunities. I start the new job on Monday. Wish me luck....

YIPPEEEEE!

I see LSU socks in my future!! I found this fabulous yarn today while working hard and promptly bought all that The Plucky Knitter had! I absolutely CANNOT wait to get it in!!! And since I got a yarn winder for Christmas from my wonderful sister, I'll be able to wind and knit to my heart's content. And yes, it's widely known and been openly discussed - I'm a total dork!

Finished Christmas Gifts

I wasn't going to keep you waiting long. Yes, the hardest thing I've ever knitted and routinely threw across the room was entitled "Ene's Scarf" and I made it for Aunt Diane. She calls it the nicest thing she's ever owned and I'm just thrilled that she's thrilled. I was so caught up with her reaction that I didn't take a picture. Yes, I know - real smart! But here it is.

I also finished Navarre's baby coat! And I was just thrilled with the finished product - even if it is highly impractical for a 5 month old.

Hopefully I'll have Leslie and Jamie's gifts finished before Easter.

CHAMPIONS!

We love Christmas.....

....but Trindon is our favorite Holliday!

Updates Soon

Just got back from Baton Rouge.... updates to follow.... could hardly tear myself away from this sweet face!!!