What's happening...

I'm exhausted to the core. I have been running myself ragged all month. There has been so much going on that I have barely had a moment to breath. It doesn't help that this is a short month either. I will be grateful when this week is over yet the first 2 weeks of March are shaping up to be just as crazy. In my 2nd job I've been left alone with the kiddos and I have one boy that has autism, and several other issues along with an obviously troubled home life. It's been rough. The museum is plugging away and so am I trying to keep up with all my little projects. Last week my boss and I became Red Cross Certified babysitter instructors. We can now teach babysitter certification courses that are often called boot camps. In these camps
young babysitters to be (ages 11-15) learn first aid, CPR, diapering, feeding, you name it. It was a several day process becoming certified and it took me away from the museum which always means more work in the end, but I think it will be worth it in the end. This certification is something I can take with me anywhere I go and has the potential of becoming another means of income.

I'm still toying with the idea of school. I was excepted and told what available financial aid I could get, but for me taking out more debt is scary and the timing is not so good. As I said earlier I barely have time to breath. I'm waiting until May and hopefully things will have slowed down around here.

As the earlier post stated Jesse and the guys are gearing up for their EP release. I hear we're doing a bake sale again which means I will be slaving away in the kitchen again. The mint chocolate bars I made last time were fabulous and actually sold like hot cakes. Jesse's working on finding a button maker, printing up new shirts, and drawing up posters. The guys are all really excited and they continue to practice away with their new drummer hoping to have perfection the night of the big release.

We've got a plethora of visitors coming our way over the next couple months and I tell you what I'm so excited! I love visitors and I can not wait to have some time off to spend enjoying their company and the city. Denver is a beautiful place with lots of cool things to see and do, but you often neglect those things when you live here. Re-discovering Denver with family and friends is always a good time.

I've been in baby shopping overload lately. 2 of the women I supervisor are pregnant and since I'm the unofficial party planning committee on the Education team I have been planning 2 baby showers. On top of all that I have numerous friends having babies as well. It seems like a small baby boom. In fact Jesse's sister-in-law was being induced last night. We still have no word, but they're expecting a boy and we're really excited to meet the new member of the family. Congrats! Jared & Brittani. We can't wait for the pictures.

Big Band News...

Hey it's finally time to release the E.P.SATURDAY MAY 16th
BUY TICKETS TIX ONLINE!
Buy tix in advance for only $4Day of show $8Larimer Lounge * 2721 Larimer St * 303.291.www.larimerlounge. com
It will be a hell of a show!Hope to see you all there.

Jesse

An Addendum to the previous post...

The current Front Runner in our top pick of cars. 2009 Toyota Yaris 4 door hatchback (w/rear wiper)

We are still in need of a new car, but... We are going to tough it out. We found a place that will fix our inner tire rods and help us get the car in a safer driving condition for a not so insane amount, so we can drive it to Iowa. In Iowa my dad will be doing a major overhaul to get the car in the best shape possible. I'm even going to try and hunt down the trim that fell off, so I can have it replaced. We will be driving the car... as minimally as possible from now until next fall. This way the car will have a better trade in value, it won't be a death trap on wheels, and we'll have more time to save up for that car we're really wanting. I want a car with 4 doors, cruise control, ac, and power locks that's small and gets great gas mileage. Jesse is a bit pickier than me. He agrees with me, but insists on it being a foreign car, he wants a cd player, and he is against sedans it must be a hatch back which must have rear defrost and possibly even a rear wiper. We're hoping to have several thousand each saved up and a good condition 1999 Ford Taurus at trade in can get you around $1,000. Being able to put at least half down in cash will give us more options and less debt. I am excited to say that our car will be repaired on Thursday of this week and we will be in Iowa on March 13th as planned and we will have a new car by October at the latest. We are still open to hearing any car buying advice since we are novices. Thanks to everyone who has been helping us out with well wishes, prayers, advice, and help with repairs. We don't know where we would be with out you.

Like I said...

I have the worst luck when it comes to cars. We've been told by several mechanics now that our car is basically a death trap on wheels. It's a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment and the cost of the repairs are more than the car is worth really, but we can't not have a car. We've come to the only conclusion possible... We need a new car now! So much for saving up and getting a new car just before next winter. We have almost nothing saved up, so we're going to have to take out a loan. Yikes! Like we need more debt. We're looking for a small, fuel efficient car, with low miles on it, for $10,000 or less. We're looking here, around Omaha, and in Des Moines. We need this car by March 12th, because we are supposed to be coming to Iowa then. Unfortunately our car isn't safe enough to be driving 645miles. I have promised to pick up Cody and bring him back with us and I will one way or another. If I have to fly to Omaha (I found a 1 way ticket for $50), buy a car there, and drive back with Cody then I will do it. We're keeping our options open, but we are kind of in a pinch here and neither one of us have a clue about buying cars, so if you have any tips please let me know. We will take all the help we can get. Wish us luck!

~Desperately seeking a Scion xa or similar car

An evening out...

The Orange circle on the right is our hotel and straight ahead the Performing Arts Complex.

One of the views from our hotel window. There is Invesco which means our house is just up the road behind it. Having the mountain view was nice and surprisingly it didn't cost extra.

Me in the hotel room. Notice the yellow Bug on the table, it was our alarm clock and the picture on the wall is a little boy shooting a lazer guy circ the 1950's.

One of the signs in the hallway pointing towards our room.

Just after getting back from the show. Thank goodness for self timer, but boo to Jesse making us re-take the photo 10 times. This is probably the worst one of the bunch if you ask me, but he deleted all the rest, so this is what we're stuck with no smile from him and a fake one from me.

Jesse's birthday present to me was a night out and tickets to see CHICAGO @ the Buell Theater downtown. We stayed in a funky downtown hotel that has themed floors. Our floor was 13 the Da da Dummm.... Scary floor. The walls were decorated with old horror movie posters and pictures of black cats. The elevator would quote scary movie lines as it let you off on that floor. The other floors included science fiction, romance, girl talk, and many more. We had a great view of our surroundings and the mountains. The package included free valet for our lovely beast of a car. Thank goodness the car didn't fall apart when the valet was driving it. We also had dinner in the restaurant downstairs called The Corner Office. We had shrimp spring rolls, pita and hummus, teriyaki salmon and orange chicken, delish! Then for dessert I had a frozen almond joy (which pretty much tastes just like it sounds with ice cream on top) and he had a brownie sundae. Our hotel was right across the street from the Denver Performing Arts Complex, so convienent. The show went by fast... too fast if you ask me, but I really enjoyed it. Jesse was so full from dinner and comfortable in our seats that he began to doze off before the show started. The band, the singing, the clapping, and the guy behind us laughing woke him right up. The next morning we woke up early and walked over to one of our favorite little downtown cafe for an early bird breakfast special. Jesse decided not to take the day off, so that means he dropped me off at home and headed to work. It was a lovely birthday gift and I enjoyed every minute of it.

25 things...

1. I used to think that I would never leave Stuart, IA and now I live in Denver and know that I will never live in Stuart or Iowa ever again. Though I miss the people so. I often wish they would all move closer. Why can't Denver be 4 hours from Stuart instead of 10hours.

2. I almost never remember my dreams and when I do I can only retell bits and pieces that make almost no sense to anyone, but me. Jesse has vivid dreams almost nightly and can retell them with such detail it amazes me. He's got an amazing memory or he's the best storyteller/liar I have ever met... Either way I am jealous.

3. I've made it my mission to help Jesse better connect with his family. I know he's jealous of me and how close I am to my family. I try to keep in contact with his mom through emails, his sister through her blog page, his grandma through letters, and his other sisters and sister-in-law through myspace. It's also a big part of the reason I started this blog page.

4. I love pictures. I love taking pictures, looking at pictures, and framing and hanging pictures on my wall. I have roughly 20 photos around my living room and would have more, but Jesse thinks were getting a big excessive.

5. I love antiques. I love historical artifacts you might say. I love to go to antique malls and look around at all the history and maybe even take some home with me. One of my prized possessions is a framed 1926 cover of Pictorial Review a womens' sewing magazine of the day. It's a beautiful piece of art.

6. I want to learn how to sew and even more I want to learn how to quilt. Someday when I have the time and the money I will do both. I got a used sewing machine as a present from my old landlords and for my birthday my friend, who works at a fabric shop, got me supplies to get started. Now I need to transform our spare room into a sewing room.

7. I want to go back to school and I don't all at the same time. I'm torn, because I know on one hand that it can only open more doors for me career wise, but on the other hand I dread sitting in a class room again and I don't know how I'm going to make it work financially. I got accepted and now I'm figuring out the rest. I'm very nervous.

8. My car is falling apart and I can not afford another especially right now. I'm doing my best to save up for a new one and hopefully before next winter I will have saved 2 to 3 thousand and my friend's dad who works at the auto auction will hook me up. I can not wait!

9. I come from a long line of artistic people and most people think I'm an artisit, but it's just not true. I can barely draw to save my life. Jesse is definitely the artist out of the 2 of us. I'm more of the creative type. I'm good at crafts and inspiring creative thoughts in others. I think of myself more as a muse.

10. I love kids, but at this point in my life am not ready for my own. I get enough kid time at the museum, the parenting classes, babysitting, my new volunteer job, and spending time with all of Jesse's neices and nephews (he's got 5 and 2 on the way). Someone else described it as the grandparent job. Play with them, teach them, have fun with them and then send them home with their folks. Give me 5 years and then we'll see where I am.

11. I have no problem cleaning up after others, but when it comes to cleaning up after me I often get lazy. Jesse is my motivator and if it weren't for him who knows how many dishes would be piled in the sink or how much laundry would be in the laundry basket before I got around to taking care of it.

12. I have a big problem saying No. When I was younger we went on a family vacation to Arnold's Park with all my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I have a very weak stomach and don't really enjoy myself at theme parks for those of you who don't know. Me being the oldest of the cousins was asked to ride with the younger ones. Ok and then again with the next one. Ok and so on until I started feeling queasy. I told my mom I thought I needed to set down for a bit. She didn't seem to concerned, because when I looked up she was walking away with the rest of the group leaving me all alone. I jumped up and ran to catch up with them only to be suckered into riding the spinning apples with a group of the little ones. Yeah needless to say a really bad idea. As soon as the ride was over I ran for the exit only to make it to the bushes where I proceeded to vomit. Should have said No, but I just couldn't. I've always got to be the nice guy. I'm working on this, but it still continues to be a problem for me.

13. I'm terrible with money. Seriously I give it away faster than I make it. I barely make any money, but I know people who make less than me and they make it work and it looks effortless. I should stop giving it all away, but I have a soft spot for others.

14. I work at a non-profit and until I got the job I had no idea what that term meant. Now I can't imagine myself working in the for profit world.

15. I love to volunteer. Helping others better their lives makes me feel good and no matter what I hope to always have a volunteer job until the day I die. It makes me happy.

16. I tend to be a gossip. I try to not be, because I hate drama and petty childish games... but sometimes the small town comes out in me and I gossip away. Maybe someday I'll be strong enough not to.

17. I am more sensitive than most people think. I put off a hard exterior and always as my dad says play tougher than the nails, but I do have a sensative side. I love helping others especially my friends, family, and co-workers, but the only thing I ask in return is a thank you or some sort of acknowledgement. The one thing that hurts my feelings the most is having my act of kindness ignored. Repay me with polite manners, just like we tell the kids at the museum.

18. I hate rude people. I have the hardest time putting myself first and people who are rude and selfish drive me nuts. I would do anything for anyone especially those I care most about before I would do for myself and it blows my mind that people out there think they are more important than all other people. Get off your high horse and help a brother out.

19. I don't believe that you have to go to church to be a good person. I believe in right and wrong and the golden rule. If you follow those three things you will go far.

20. Jesse and I are addicted to Netflix. We get really obessed and since joinging a few months ago have uped the number of dvd's we get. We also do live streaming on his x-box.

21. I have what some might call an odd obsession with learning about pregnancy and child birth. I watch lots of shows and documentaries and read lots of books. I've even thought about trying to become a labor and delivery nurse, a doula, or a midwife. I would love to experience the miracle of birth on a daily basis and to help couples ease through the transistion.

22. I love cooking especially baking. I got 2 cook books for Christmas and 2 cooking aprons for my birthday. I like to try out new recipes, but more than that I like to make up my own recipes. To me recipes are more of a guidline. I like to get creative, but nothing to weird. I follow the cooking school of grandma... it's all in my head, I make it from memory and I pinch the salt instead of use proper measurements. It seems to be doing well for me thus far.

23. I truly enjoy doing laundry on my day off, but only when I have nothing else to do and the washer and dryer are in my apartment and free.

24. I have an obsession with the tv show Jon & Kate plus 8. I watch it all the time and I force Jesse to watch it too. Its a cute show that's often funny and watching the chaos of their life makes me feel better about the chaos of mine. Hey at least I don't have 8 kids under 8.

25. My favorite genre of movies is Documentary. I've been dowloading tons all day from netflix, so we can stream them on his x-box.