Chatham?

Today we need to make some big decisions. To be honest, I'm nervous either way and not sure of what the results will be.

Today we need to decide if this will be our last month or if we will be moving. The choices of our moving destination are open, with the top of the list obviously Chatham.

Brent and I both applied for a job with the Chatham library. They are hiring six people, so there is a chance we are both successful (especially when Brent had the job last year). However, on the same note, there is a chance neither of us get the job. So do we risk it and move?

I am done work at the end of September and that is the only real thing keeping us in Mississauga. Although our apartment has been getting better, and we are enjoying the city more, our hearts truly are elsewhere. It really just depends upon where our jobs are. Brent currently still has a job, although the one in Chatham pays more, and would be more enjoyable for him, is it worth leaving the one in hopes of getting the other. Do we take the risk? Should he now explore the 'other' opportunities he has put on hold these past few months so we could stay in Mississauga?

I hate the idea of trying to figure out the logistics of moving. I hate the idea of packing, AGAIN. I hate the idea of searching for another apartment that is within our budget. I hate hate the idea of changing my cell phone number, because what if one of these good, career building,  in my field kind of jobs calls for an interview. I hate the idea of uprooting and change.

I do however love the idea of being close to family. I love the idea of heading back to our home church, the church where we were married. I love the idea of being able to get involved with church again. I love the idea of being back with our small group. I love the idea of always knowing where I am going. I love the idea of having friends close by and things to keep me busy.

Most of these are small and insignificant points. But they mean something to me and are all being taken into consideration. It is hard to say what to do when who knows what is going to happen in a month. On the same note, I then worry that we are going to spend the first five years of our marriage moving from city to city, job to job. Why is it so hard to get a good, full time, permanent job? I think I have paid my dues. But that is for another rant post.

So I ask that you join us in prayer as we (most likely) are giving our one months notice to our landlord and trying to figure out what the future holds.

Update: We gave our last months notice. So we are now apartment hunting (kind of). And most of all looking for where God will lead us next, even if it is just to another apartment in Mississauga.

Compliments.

Today I realized just how wonderful it is when someone, even a stranger, gives you a compliment.

I think it is missing in the world and I am now going to strive to be someone who compliments people.

The whole tire frustration (read about the drama here) ended with a wonderful chat with the lady who cashed me out. After taking more money then I am comfortable forking over at one time she paid me a shocking but wonderful compliment. She told me loved my voice. This is a new one for me and caught me completely off guard. She then went on to explain that when she spoke to me on the phone she could picture me in commercials or doing voice overs for documentaries and such. This made me shockingly happy.

So, although I do not believe I have a nice voice, I actually think I sound very much like a man, it was nice to get a compliment from a complete stranger. I feel like those are the ones that are the most genuine. So from now on I think I will attempt to step out of my shell and compliment people. This might be a stretch for me, like I am slightly scared just thinking about it. But we will see, it should be a good experience.

Spread the love.

Tires.

I am stressed.

I had been told I needed new tires since last fall. I know I should have done it done sooner, but with little snow and me being cheap, mixed with having no money, I had continued to put it off.

I had put it off until yesterday when I noticed that one of the tires had the metal pieces sticking out of it. This scared me into getting new tires. Walmart was close and the price beat that of the quote I got from the dealer so I got new tires.

After getting said tires put on my car I am informed that I need a tire alignment and that, that is why my one tire was getting worn down so much. I say 'sure, go ahead'. I am thinking 'I have no idea what that means, I just want to be able to drive home'. To which I am then informed that they do not do alignments so I need to find another place, and I need to do it soon or I will ruin these tires and the warranty will be void.

I drove home slow, scared that being miss aligned I would destroy my very expensive new purchase. Today I go for a realignment. After calling around I found that the Canadian Tire does it and they can take it whenever. Those are the words I like to hear, however I do not like the associated price tag.

And when I think I have everything figured out I am hit with another whammy. The fine print at the bottom of my receipt from Walmart now indicates that I need to return between 50 and 200 km for my tires to re-torqued, because they are not responsible if I don't do this and my tire falls off or becomes loose.

So now, I am not only worried about whether the tires will wear wrong before I make it to Canadian Tire tonight, but I am also concerned that my tire will fall off. Seriously, who knew that it was this much work to get new tires? Have I mentioned that I am stressed. Blah!

Update as I am wandering aimlessly around Canadian tire waiting. I'm also mad now finding out I could have saved a lot of money by doing it all here. Also they have a wonderful warranty that I find out about now. I'm sad. Very sad. And surprisingly still stress. Also, what does one do in a Canadian tire for an hour and a half?

Birthday.

Sunday was Brent's birthday. 24! So happiest of birthdays to my wonderful husband!

I love birthdays! We typically go big.

This year was a slight exception because we decided to save some money and put it towards a trip. We are hoping to get to go to Montreal at the end of the month. Actually we are praying we get to go to Montreal at the end of the month.

Anyways, the weekend was perfect for both of us. I cannot remember a better weekend. We had cleaned the apartment extremely hard core this past week due to having our first company on Friday (I had a university friend for dinner) and I also made brownies (I will post the recipe later as I have gotten requests for it in the past). So I had never realised just how much more relaxing a clean apartment can be. We slept in Saturday, caught up on some TV watching and just relaxed. We decided to start to watch Friends and see how far we could get. It was a great time together without any stress.

Sunday was even better (if it could get better). We planned epic meals. I made Brent breakfast (http://penniesonaplatter.com/2012/08/15/birthday-cake-pancakes/) which turned out awesome. We did not have the sprinkles, but instead of white cake mix I used confetti cupcake mix (Brent's favourite) and used the rest for actual cupcakes. The confetti cupcake mix made for a bit of colour, however sprinkles would have set these over the top! I also did not want to buy buttermilk due to the cost, so instead I made my own. I used 1 1/2 cups of milk and about 1 1/2 tbsp of lemon juice. It seamed to work, but since I have never seen what buttermilk looks like, who knows. I also did make the icing, I completely guessed on how much of what to use, but it was wonderful. However, then I put too much on the pancakes, making them super sweat! But it was a birthday, so who cares. We have found a new Hartford tradition. I cannot wait to celebrate more birthdays. They were a hit! Lunch we had taco dip, dinner was steak, twice baked potatoes and cauliflower with cheese sauce. Again all of Brent's favourites.

So overall it was a wonderful lazy birthday weekend where we ate like champions! There also may have been a Taylor Swift card in there, but who doesn't love a good TSwift card? I for one am obsessed. Have a special occasion? Want a Taylor Swift card? Be friends with me and its almost guaranteed.

School.

This week school started again. This week I went to work as usual for the second third year in a row. I don't know if this feeling is ever going to leave me, but I really do miss school. I miss almost everything about it, from the back to school shopping (I love school supplies), to the organization, the study notes, the classes, the business of it all.

You honestly could take me and put me back to any year of my education days and I would love it. I was the student who thrived in the academic world, could multi task and take on a million things at once. I am not saying I was the best student, I rarely studied (prior to university), and I always left things till the last minute, but I still loved it.

I hate reading all over facebook and twitter about how people hate that they are going back to school, that they are complaining about another school year. I am jealous, I wish I could be going back to school. If I could do it all over again, I know I would be doing things different, I would have tried harder, probably taken on more extracurriculars and put more effect in making friendships that last.

School was not always wonderful for me, like everyone else I stressed over tests, I rushed to finish projects last minute, I was picked on and bullied and at times felt very alone, but overall it was wonderful. There is no where else that you can participate in so many different things for FREE or almost free, from sports to the arts, to leadership building. Also, you never have more free time, university included. You have maybe 20 hours of class a week, you can study when you want, do everything at your own pace, so you have an open and flexible schedule which is wonderful.

So that is my rant, I want everyone to realise just how blessed they are to be able to be a student, to be getting one of the best educations in the world and not complain so much because before you know it you will be sitting at a desk, watching a school bus pass and wish you could go back. But then again, maybe that is just me, Man I miss it!