It has flown!

Time - what happened to it? It's been almost two months since I last wrote and it seems like yesterday that I wrote it, but this year has just flown also!
So what's happened - well I quit my job in Alex with no job in my future and the Wednesday before I went to being a house-wife (which I was totally looking forward to if I wasn't so concerned with money), I get offered a job with a Cu in BR. So I started immediately - no really the following Monday - which was crazy, should have taken a week or so off but whatever. I think I'm finally getting settled, but it's been a change. My hours are longer, my commute is horrible (Thanksgiving Eve - 1.5 hrs to get home when normally it's like 30 minutes/15 on a great day). Still trying to find a routine between the extra hour at my full time job, 30 minute commute, apartment living which means dogs to the park, doing my paper job (yep kept that because it should be easy money) and doing work around the house. Seriously -- how to mom's do this - like mine who is freakin awesome to work full time, raise three kids, clean the house and still have a hot meal on the table for us and dad. It's ridiculous! I can't seem to figure it out.
Got an early Christmas gift though - a BREAD MACHINE! and I've been loving it and I think Hoss has too (and according to him so have the pups). Sandy just celebrated her 4 year with us and birthday. My little puppy is growing up. I miss that small little weed.
We've kind of started house hunting. We have an idea of the area we want to live in so it will just be a matter of time - finding out what is going to happen to our house in Alex and where Hoss will be working.
So I'm settling in and Hoss is adjusting to not being a batchelor anymore :)

Day 1, 11 to go

Well it's official. I quit my job. In two weeks, I'll be jobless but happy. I'll finally be with my hubby and pups after three? four months? It's time, job or no job.
So I'll finally be leaving my parents' home and making it BR for good. Not leaving Sunday to come back to P-ville with my heart breaking. And I'm freaking excited! I can handle being a house-wife... surely... can't be that hard with no babies just puppies who have cages. I know how to clean, I just don't like to but I can handle a tiny apartment. And cooking - sure I can figure it out again.
*sigh* It will be just good to be home. Now to make the next 11 days, fly (though I only have 8 days of work assuming I have no job interview before that)

They are coming

The tears are finally setting in. I've been out of my home for a few weeks now and moved into my parents for the time being and it's just now hitting me. I've spent the last 4 days with my family (Hoss and the babies) and in two I leave to go back home and it hurts. I've been by my now house (because my home is elsewhere) and it's just not the same. I see things that makes me wish, we would have sold it so I wouldn't have to see it again.
I just had my 29th birthday, thankfully with my family, but sadly no one else. And I feel like I'm leaving on Wednesday like a thief in the night because I won't get to see Hoss before I leave.
I'm ready to be back with everyone and now trying to figure out if we can in fact survive on 1.5 incomes and let me move down here and just do paper work until I find a local job.
And yes things have been changing as they always do. Hoss had to get a new car - 2012 Chrysler 200 :) Mom and I are working hard on our hobby, soon to become a real business. But honestly, even my birthday meant nothing to me because it's fleeting and after 7 days, I would have to go back to my reality. Which is this: stuck at a job that I love, but need to leave with my boss leaving, a new temp that won't listen to me, a new temp that I have yet to meet, one co-worker rightfully getting "promoted" to manager and the other rightfully getting "promoted" to my job (well most of it). I feel a little useless, among other things.
Had an interview on Thursday which started my downness. It just didn't feel like it went all that well and then nothing happened for my day, shopping on Saturday wasn't fun, and then it was the downhill of my vacation.
Plus side was Saturday night was a blast but even that was fleeting.
Yep, I'm Debby Downer right now

Is it the final countdown??

Kind of feels like it. The house is pretty much packed, Hoss is settled in his new job, living like a bachelor and I'm antsy to finish this move.
I started my job hunt a week or so earlier than I planned. Still waiting which always puts me on edge, but at least one of the jobs doesn't close until tomorrow. Have to make plans to take off to take a civil service test in case I have to go that route. Which wouldn't be a bad idea, I just feel like I would be starting over AGAIN in my career (as much as it is). But right now there is nothing open for a consumer loan officer and if there is it's not what I do, it's more of a loan processor. I'm used to making decisions here and I'm damned good at it. And frankly, I refuse to go back into banks. I don't agree with their ideology so that's a no go.
Hoss had two  of the three pups this week at the apartment and it's been funny to hear the stories. Huck is acting out majorly and Hoss gets to clean up the poop! Hoss has no routine and dogs need it and Huck is still a puppy so he needs it more. But Huck stays with him and they train each other. I'm not taking him back, nope sorry, love him but he stresses me out.
They seem to be adapting well to the dog park and no constant outside, but Sandy has been with me so we'll see.
Our renters move in August and that will be interesting. They are already wanting to move stuff in but I have no place to put ours so that's a no go.
Can't say I'm going to miss this old place and town. We've had a few good ones but the bad ones out number and I'm ready to start anew. The question, will that be possible?

The moving saga part 2

I am beyond stressed. I hate moving now more than I thought. Hoss has a mini vacation going. He's in the new apartment (which is totally costing us a fortune, but downtown BR, next to a dog park - what more could we ask for), while I'm stuck with the pups and packing up. He's just missing cable because poor baby can't hook it up correctly (or it's not working).
But it's day 3 of his new job and seems to be working out well and I'm ready to move with him. So it's time to start the job hunt.

The moving saga... Part 1

So my dear Hoss finally got the job offer he's been waiting for and we are now moving. To the one city we said we would never live in because it's home to the dreaded Tiggers. But the company is (supposedly) much better and the pay was worth it. Plus I should be able to get a better paying job.
So we just finished painting our house and now we are leaving. It's bittersweet. We've lived here for 6 years and for all it's faults it's home.
Until Sunday everything was going great. I worked out things at my job where I know when I should try to leave to get some retirement and help finding a job. We found someone who wanted to do a lease with option to purchase for our house. Which was what kept me back for 6 months when he was in NB. So naturally we thought we would be able to find a place easy peasy.
Not so much. We don't and can't buy write now. Because we aren't selling the house just yet, we still have to include it in the debt to income ratio (Boo!!) so we can't afford a house we would want to keep. In a year we can afford an additional $100K if we choose to (so we'll wait).
Hoss tells me it's ok we'll rent for a year and everything will be great. Hoss, what about the pups. We have three. Again, no big deal E-beth, there are plenty of people who'll rent to us...
Yep, not so much. First we want to keep the rent low (like what our mortgage is) - Ha! Did I mention we were moving to the Capital of this state???? Which has the state uni?? At least $1 per sq. ft. for a decent rental. Ok no biggie, we'll go small (it's only for a year right??)... most places only will allow 2 pets - we have 3 dogs...
We have searched, called around (ok Hoss has), I think he even pleaded with people. Finally we have two options that we are going to view on Sunday. One I'm leaning towards even though it's the smaller of the two options (but also the least expensive and potentially more secure). But it's extremely dog friendly and might expose us to having a life (there is hope we will get out of our shell).
Also he's talked to another company that may have something. So while I was completely frustrated and depressed Monday morning, things are hopefully working out. We can't split our family, though mom has said she would take the two big dogs but it's not fair to the pups or Hoss.
Seriously, we owned our house for 6 years, we never thought we would rent again or I wouldn't have gotten Huck as much as I love him and I'm not getting rid of any of them. We'll buy and sell in two years before that happens.
Here's hoping something works out on Sunday. And in a month I'll start seriously job hunting though I'll have my job here until I quit or they close (thank God I'm a hard worker that they'll keep me until I need to leave).

Soon and very soon

We will be moving!!!!
Hoss has accepted a job with a bigger paper in a much bigger area.
More coming when I have time :)

You'll find a better love

Yes, I'm writing this as I see the end of AI. But it's kind of fitting. I've found a new love.
Last Christmas my mom and I started making soap (for her) and candles (for me). At first I was blah about it. I do the majority of the work and felt like someone wasn't too happy with my work. Shocking I know.
I still feel that way but this past week I've been absorbed with it. Mom sent out notices that we were going to be making Mother's Day baskets. And I put it off as long as I could.
See to begin with I hate crafts. It's stupid in my opinion and DIY is totally for the birds. But lately, my allergies have been killing me when it comes to scents. I can't really use most Bath and Body stuff because of that so I had already switch to mom's soap and the last couple of Yankee candles I had been given, I can not use at all!
So I've been trying to think of this as our business. So I'm loving it. And it's all natural. Soy wax, real oils and butter, I get to play with lye... it's been fun.
And we actually sold some of these! And people wanted more afterwards.
Ok so the candles still suck but I'm working it. Need more wax.
and soon we are going to add lip balm!! that really has me excited.
Yep it costs a lot intially but the cost per is soo much cheaper than the store (any store) and it's natural. Or at least I plan for the lip balm to be from scratch like the soaps.
Anyways, we'll see how this endeavor goes :)

And what I am to you is not real

It's a two blog day. But as promised a few shots of my UGLY house:

The back of the house after the first day. It looks worse now, but isn't Huckabay a cutie

 The side of our house and yes that also looks worse now. But it will get better.

And the only beautiful thing on the outside of my house :)

Time may change me

Feeling a little bloggy. It's been mad crazy around our house. No literally, I've been mad and bit more crazy than normal. Eh, it happens. There's a lot of stress going on.
The DH has had some changes to the job. He's part time reporter part time sports whatever. Progress to getting him back into sports but hell on my nerves because he's either ALWAYS around or NEVER around. And I had just gotten used to our rhythm. Took only 2.5 years. Oh well.
Got the DH a dishwasher and guess who uses it more! Yep, that's right me. Doing both loading and unloading -- so not fair.
Now on to the fun stuff in our live -- (whatever) but I do have pics and can post when I get home. We dug up our old patio and in the next year or so we'll lay down a new one. Planted seed grass two days ago in the hopes that we get some to grow to replace what the pups have done.
Pups aren't too happy with us. We've had them cooped up and then shipped to Granny's because finally the guys have come to paint our house!! It's been almost a week and my house is soo UGLY! No seriously, UGLY. And I'm still worried about the colors we chose. Brown and Tan (yep what the house was to begin with just different shades). But it's been long days. They show up around 7:30 and don't leave until closer to 5. And seriously it doesn't look like much has really happened but I know it has.
Up next for us, is finishing the back yard. We have a tub to get rid of (seriously who uses a tub to make a flower bed... it holds nasty water!!) and a shed to move. Then we'll be done until we can afford to purchase the new pavers and lay a new patio which I'm super excited about. Hoping it will help with our drainage and skeeter problem.

Final Four

I'm sure I have a 5,000-word blog in me about my recent trip to the Big Easy for the Final Four. Unfortunately, I'm arriving in Shreveport for some video training at work and don't have time to type that many words. So I'll keep it pretty short and sweet.

Simply put, uh-may-ZING! We ha a blast over the weekend. Even though Kentuky (boo!) won, the experience was great - so much so that we are hoping to go to next year's Final Four in Atlanta.

There aren't many cities better-equipped to handle a big-time event as the Big Easy. Great party atmosphere. And we had a blast sharing the weekend with Elizabeth's brothers.

There's so much more I'd like to say, but my time is up. Maybe later!

A flower making basket

It's Louisiana, it's spring already... maybe
But the above fits my mood. Tuesday we FINALLY refied our house! Savings of $220ish a month thank you very much! Just to turn around and spend that on a new note elsewhere. Yep, we are going ahead with getting our house painted.
**Backstory**
Past three weeks have been pure hell for me. Four Sunday's ago someone tried to break into our house - whatever except for I was home. Thank God for my pups though Huckabay tried to get killed afterwords. So we had to replace our back door. The following week our next door neighbor gets broke into. And last Wednesday someone again tries our house using a hammer to a window. Thankfully I wasn't home or I would be moving into my mom's house again or an institution for a breakdown. BTW -- take my crap just stop breaking things. It's just stuff and I'm tired of constantly putting out $$ for doors and windows. I'll give you the stuff in the house... possibly... and then call the cops... maybe... I've become a ninny with all this happening, not to mention a silly girl crying at EVERYTHING.
So we went to Lowe's and got a new door and had them install it. Found out we have lead paint on the house. YAY... but the guy they sent out does restorations and renovations and we talked to him about painting the house what it would intell since we have rotten boards that you can't just pay anymore. We had looked at siding last year but at $20K I don't think so... He had to check with Lowes but in the end he came back and gave us a quote on painting it and remaking some wood siding... 1/2 the cost of vinyl siding!!
So yeah sometime next month we will have our house painted!! Much to my excitement because I LOVE STUFF BEING PAINTED and Hoss's because he thinks it will added much need value -- I'd rather do work on the inside but whatever.
So we are taking out another loan for that. And no a HELOC wasn't an option - we have no value in the house at this point. But it will be paid off in at least 5 years and we will be done with that project and move on to another if we don't use some of money for it before hand.
But back to my title... the stress of everything has pushed me outside with the skeeters and my pups to just calm down. Of course my backyard has barely any grass much less flowers but that will change too. I've employed LG's lawn service to come up with a pup friendly backyard :)
Like I said last post... it's exciting times for Mc's

Whoo hoo!

No song, sad times but lookie lookie. Our refi is finally coming through! It has been in the works for almost 3 months. I was beginning to think it might not happen. But finally! It will save us almost 250 a month so we are finally going to get our house painted!!!
Exciting times for the Mc5 family and we can only hope for a few more this year.

It's the age of ...

The new year has come. Yay? Last year ended kind of whatever for us. Don't get me wrong, everything was fine just weird at the same time.
Hoss has declared this year the year of the hr.
So this year was mostly like any others. We went to mom's for New Years to do Christmas with my family and it was a blast. The boys are just getting old enough to start staying up closer to midnight in fact one did make it to midnight. Hoss spent way too much money on nice ending fireworks (he stayed in the budget though so no complaints) and they were AWESOME! I feel asleep somewhere between 11-12 but was up for the display (obviously) but slept through some of the louder fireworks. Nobody (Hoss) threw fireworks at us or in the fire on purpose to scare us.
I have a few photos but you'll have to check them out on facebook or tumblr because that's where I posted them this time around --> took them with my new phone so it was easier.
Then Sunday we went to see Hoss's mom for her b-day. Again nice, took the three kids and that made it more interesting. Saw Hoss's dad and g-parents Christmas Eve. All in all, wonderful time.
First year though we didn't make plans to see friends. Last minute I got my girls together for a quick evening but otherwise it was "friendless" and WONDERFUL! No stress, no worries, no extra spending and traveling (because why ever should people travel to see us)
I only got bogged down as to what to get Hoss since he went to San Diego, we're trying to do something else with our money so I didn't want to spend a lot until it goes through (which meant no dishwasher for the house). But I think the stress actually came from his flight issues and just went from there.
All in all, a good holiday time.
This year the major thing planned is the Final Four and Hoss's 30th b-day. I had hoped to convince him to go back to the CWS (which would only be fitting, Hoss, year of the hr... home run =D) but doesn't look like he's up for it. Maybe we'll pick up a few concerts.
So Hoss, here to the year of the hr!