A Blessed Chrismas to y'all!!
Mom Needs To Post More Often, Doesn't She
I'm "commandeering" (as Jack Sparrow would say) mom's blog for the time being. >:-) <----------- evil face
I thought I'd give an update on what's been going on with me since the move to CA.
For the first two months, I didn't think that it would EVER get below 98 degrees (fluctuated between 98 and 105 every day)... it's THAT hot. But it's a "dry heat", so I shouldn't complain, right? Well, when you're taking a glass-blowing course and the facility for it is outside... then yes, yes I can complain ;) ("pobrecita".... mom would say :-P)
The weather's perfect now, and the leaves are changing like back home, something I didn't even think about ("Do they have deciduous trees that change nicely in the fall?" Duh, yes... why wouldn't they?). It's nice to have them, I thought I was going to miss out Autumn in all its glory, for some reason. I thought it was more palm trees/plants that don't "shed".
The campus is huge, and all about Frats/Sororities (I'd say about 20-30 of them). That was new to me. UW-Eau Claire has 3 sororities and a fraternity (but I thought it got shut down due to lack of members), which goes to show how unpopular it is to JOIN one at UWEC (pretty much if you're desperate for friends, join one of those). The all-female/all-male choirs on campus were the closest things to a real sorority/frat (the cool, popular thing to be in). But, Fresno State is over double the population of UW-Eau Claire, so....
The campus is also really beautiful, and really ugly at the same time. The buildings that are newer look nice, as well as the landscaping on the campus grounds... but the older buildings, dang, they look like some sort of catacombs in the underbelly of a prison somewhere. Pretty sketchy, and realllly creepy at night.
To say the least, it's been the most challenging and rewarding semester ever. I'll break it down:
Challenges:
Anyway, that's about it. You can look at what I've been working on (and past work) on my webpage: http://playwithmyheart.deviantart.com/. I'll update images after posting this blog.
And if you want my apartment address for any reason (letters, cards, food, fancy gifts, a check for $1 million), mom can get that to you.
Hope everyone's doing great. I love California, but nothing beats Minnesota :)
- "Goose"
I thought I'd give an update on what's been going on with me since the move to CA.
For the first two months, I didn't think that it would EVER get below 98 degrees (fluctuated between 98 and 105 every day)... it's THAT hot. But it's a "dry heat", so I shouldn't complain, right? Well, when you're taking a glass-blowing course and the facility for it is outside... then yes, yes I can complain ;) ("pobrecita".... mom would say :-P)
The weather's perfect now, and the leaves are changing like back home, something I didn't even think about ("Do they have deciduous trees that change nicely in the fall?" Duh, yes... why wouldn't they?). It's nice to have them, I thought I was going to miss out Autumn in all its glory, for some reason. I thought it was more palm trees/plants that don't "shed".
The campus is huge, and all about Frats/Sororities (I'd say about 20-30 of them). That was new to me. UW-Eau Claire has 3 sororities and a fraternity (but I thought it got shut down due to lack of members), which goes to show how unpopular it is to JOIN one at UWEC (pretty much if you're desperate for friends, join one of those). The all-female/all-male choirs on campus were the closest things to a real sorority/frat (the cool, popular thing to be in). But, Fresno State is over double the population of UW-Eau Claire, so....
The campus is also really beautiful, and really ugly at the same time. The buildings that are newer look nice, as well as the landscaping on the campus grounds... but the older buildings, dang, they look like some sort of catacombs in the underbelly of a prison somewhere. Pretty sketchy, and realllly creepy at night.
To say the least, it's been the most challenging and rewarding semester ever. I'll break it down:
Challenges:
- No sleep
- No money (kinda)
- Food keeps going bad (a.k.a. - no food)
- Never-ending slew of projects
- No sleep
- Battling homesickness
- The heat, at first
- No sleep
- Professors pushing my buttons
- My manager at Jamba Juice........ 'nough said.
- No sleep (to the point my mom thought I WAS ON DRUGS... I was that incoherent... ask her about it)
- Pulling off some pretty fantastic work for projects that I didn't think I had the capabilities (or the self-confidence) to do
- Professors telling me I have "real potential"
- Confidence in my skills increasing
- Quality time with Hippie (that's for you, Dawn) unlike we've ever had (it'll be 4.5 years Thanksgiving weekend :) )
- Making some really cool friends that save my butt a lot for class, and being inspired by them every day
- More determined to be better than ever before
- Being inspired. Period. (I wasn't feeling inspired in Eau Claire, but I am here)
- Oh, and I guess being in a club that can get a world-reknown graphic designer to come to the "Armpit of California" to speak to graphic design students... AND hanging out with her all day, counts too ;)
- http://www.chasedesigngroup.com/ to check out her work (Please do... and believe me, you know of a lot of her work... or have seen it)
Anyway, that's about it. You can look at what I've been working on (and past work) on my webpage: http://playwithmyheart.deviantart.com/. I'll update images after posting this blog.
And if you want my apartment address for any reason (letters, cards, food, fancy gifts, a check for $1 million), mom can get that to you.
Hope everyone's doing great. I love California, but nothing beats Minnesota :)
- "Goose"
My amazing Cowboy
Saturday coming home from Cowboy's soccer game, out of the blue he asks "Mom did God made me be born like this?" (cleft lip) I said "I don't believe God made you that way but I think He knew that you would be born like that. I also believe that He knew before you were born that you would be our son and come to live in America." To which he said "He saved my life cause now I don't have to go to hell." and then "Man! I don't do enough for God."
This boy blows me away!!
July 2009 We ARE moving
Moved in with mom and dad in Indiana.
Drove to Georgia AGAIN!! this time with my mom and Shrimp. Weatherman flew down a day later. Spent another 3 days looking at houses (I can't remember how many this time) On the 3rd day.....we found it!! Made an offer and.....YEAH!!! We actually have an address!! We finally know what town we will live in!!!
The house had been empty for about a year and everything was overgrown , but the space inside was exactly what we were looking for! (plus there was room in the backyard for a pool) WOOOO HOOOO!! Picked up paperwork to get the kids registered for school which starts on August 3rd!!
So we drove back to Indiana again. My mom played secretary on the way back and made phone calls for the inspection, septic inspection, carpet cleaning and something else I can't remember.
Since the house was empty we were able to get a quick closing date , July 17 with moving van coming on the 2oth.
Mom and I packed up the van AGAIN and drove back to Georgia AGAIN. Weatherman flew to Georgia AGAIN and we drove straight to HomeDepot to buy paint and supplies . Did I mention that EVERY wall in the house was white?
Closed on the house on the 17th. Weatherman flew back to Minnesota. Mom and I stayed and started painting. We painted 12 hours on the 18th and 12 hours on the 19th. Movers came on the 20th. We stayed up til 11:00 unpacking. Flew back to Indiana on the 21st.
The kids and I flew back to Minnesota on the 22 to welcome our good friends back from China. They were finally bringing their little girl home!!!! Love you to pieces Shelton family!!
Flew back to Indiana the same day. Stayed at Mamaws til Weatherman could come down. And then we ALL flew from Indian to Georgia together to see our new home on July 25th!!
I AM EXHAUSTED!!!
May and June
More cleaning. More leaving , and more showings! Have I mentioned I don't want to move out of my house? More preparing for Shrimp's grad party. It is very difficult to make picture boards when you have to pick up and leave at a moments notice. Can anyone say "STRESSFUL"?? I happen to have some amazing friends who came to my rescue and helped put t
he boards all together. (Love you guys!) Prepared and hosted a Prom dinner at our house for Shrimp and friends. Goose finished her classes on the 19th so we made a trip to Eau Claire to pack her up and move her back home. Love that she is home but where do we put all this stuff??!! Yikes!!
he boards all together. (Love you guys!) Prepared and hosted a Prom dinner at our house for Shrimp and friends. Goose finished her classes on the 19th so we made a trip to Eau Claire to pack her up and move her back home. Love that she is home but where do we put all this stuff??!! Yikes!!
Toot and Cowboy were baptised on Mother's Day. Our pastor and his wife had been to the Holyland and had brought back water from the river Jordan and they asked if we would like to use some of it for the 
baptism. WOW! (we said yes :0} )
May 22nd we sold the house. We were very thankful that the house sold so quickly and for the price we wanted BUT it also drove home the fact that this was really happening. We are relocating to Georgia and the buyers want us out of the house by June 23rd!
Made a little side trip to the emergency room. My heart would not stop racing....hmmmm....I can't imagine why. The Dr. asked what was going on in my life and when I told him he kind of laughed and said I need to relax. YA THINK?? Tests all showed everything was OK. Thank you God.
June
We had our house inspected on June 4th or 5th and we passed with flying colors! There wasn't anything they asked us to fix! YEAH! The night we passed we sprung a leak in the bathroom faucet upstairs. Flooded the bathroom and soaked through a small area of the ceiling downstairs. Shrimp's party is the next day.
The Weatherman and I just throw our heads back and laugh!!! What else can you do??
Shrimp's party was wonderful and exhausting ! He had a blast. We had a blast.
Last day of school Shrimp and E-man (my "other" son)
June 9th was graduation. My baby is out of high school!
June 12th the three older kids head off to church camp where they are all counselors. They retuned on June 19th.
Left Toot and Cowboy with my mom (who was staying with us to help with the move) flew to Indiana rented a car and my sisters and I drove to Georgia for more house hunting. Weatherman flew down a day later. We looked at about 50 houses in 3 days. We found one we liked, put an offer on it and started driving back to Indiana. On the way back we received the news that we were turned down! The people would NOT budge on the price (The house had been empty for over a year!). Still homeless!!!! Flew back to Minnesota.
June 21st was father's day. Our last one in our house. It was wonderful that everyone was home but one of the saddest also. We were saying good-by to Pooh. Do you have any idea how heart wrenching it is to leave a child behind?? I felt like I was abandoning him. Your kids are supposed to go off and leave the you, NOT the other way around!!
June 22nd we sent Shrimp, Toot and Cowboy down to Indiana to stay with Mamaw. The packers come. June 23nd the movers come. I HATED this day!
Weatherman, Goose, my mother and I spent the night with my good friend Jane (Love you Jane). Said good-by to the Weatherman (he is still working in MN) and drove to Indiana.
