The Day After... With a twist!

I knew today was going to be hard!

It all started one rainy morning... Just kidding, though it was a very rainy morning! Of course the little taste of being off was not nearly enough!  We all felt like it needed to be much longer. Don't worry, we went to work anyway.  We did get to see some really cool things though.  Upon arrival, which was a bit later than anticipated, though in our defense it was raining cats and dogs this morning. Anyway, upon arrival, we talked to the other Brandi in the office who told us all about how we missed the cookout last night.  They just couldn't find our numbers.  It was all well anyway, we were pretty set on carrying on with our nothingness.

Then when we walk in, and sit down, we see Carol who we all say hello to before getting down to business.  After a while the girls get lunch from this cute little dive called Traditions.  They have the most amazing Chicken Salad Sandwich on this toasted Pretzel Bread.  They must put something like crack in it, because it is amazing! No, no crack, just a little butter, and of course we always add the pickles and a bit of salt and pepper.  I didn't really feel Traditions today so I passed, and decided on Domino's Pizza instead.  Of course not the wisest choice, but sometimes it's just what you want.

We went down to the Historical society, and that was probably the highlight of our day.  We got to see Abraham Lincoln's Presidential Ballot, the Massachusetts Spy from 1775, a skull that was found in this region, some confederate money and so many other cool things.  I went to look up someone in my chain of title, but of course it was so amazing being able to see something so old. I am going to put up a few pictures but nothing that could do justice to the pure History we saw today.  I think it is just so amazing the opportunity to get paid for digging around in these old records.

When we got back everything at the office was just kind of a let down from there. We could have stayed all day just looking through all the collections.  Back to work it was though.  After a while we called it quits.  We just couldn't do it any longer.  So we headed home for our mid afternoon break. I have loved the schedule being so flexible.  The work and hours all get put in, but being able to work them in, here and there, has been pretty nice. Then again, maybe I am just searching too hard for the good in working 7 days a week.  Laura would tell me that "there is no good in it", she is so funny and witty that one.


I almost forgot, we got to see the most beautiful sky today.  We had a double rainbow, and the whole bit.  It is so beautiful up here.  Sometimes it's hard not to think it has all been worth it, for the few moments like that.  When you can feel so close to the man upstairs and think maybe I can do this another week.  Not having another holiday to look forward to is harsh.  There is the 4th of July, but let's face it, that is a ways away.

Well enough for now, more next time.

Memorial Day... Red, White, and Blues...

So we finally had a day off!

Much needed sleep happened almost all day today!  It was wonderful to not wake up and  remember I have to work EVERY day.  Today even the courthouse was closed.  I think the Recorder's Office ladies just wanted to actually have their BBQ.  They have all been talking about different things they are doing for the day.  I am pretty sure the boss man, and everyone living down at Shadow Lake ate pretty good this weekend.  They were saying something in the office about cooking some more chicken when we left work yesterday, and probably some steaks tonight if we wanted to drop in.

We did nothing.  It was so nice! Woke up at 2:30 PM, and decided we should have some Breakfast.  So I made the girls, and myself, some Amish Scrambled Eggs, Croissants, Bacon, Fried Ham, and some melted Cheese atop their Ham.  Then later on in the afternoon I made a Cake with some Chocolate Icing. Then when the Hamburger meat had finally thawed we ate some Hamburgers made from meat that was butchered by our landlords. Laura cooked on the grill outside on the patio for the first time.  Well we had already cooked steaks, but that was much more collaborative than tonight.  She made them a special way, and still second guessed them after they were done.  We have never cooked with such fresh meat that we were just a little nervous.

Laura has been talking more and more about the "Ohio Blues".  I don't know if have them, but I do know that I miss home with a fierceness.  I don;t even really know if it has sunk in yet that I am so far from Texas. I got to see Brandon, Lillian, and Jaxon at the annual "Pool Memorial Day Pool Party" on a Skype call.  They looked like they were having so much fun!  I am jealous that I don't get to spend this time with them, though on a second thought I was thinking that the kids having to deal with this much work would just bore them anyway.  It's good that they have this time to play while I set things up here.  If nothing else putting food on the table is as good of an excuse as I need.

It was a wonderfully lazy day!  We watched the rest of an Amish show today, all about Rumspringa.  It was pretty cool to see the differences in what they think. I have such a respect for their way of life.  Even though I enjoy the way I live with modern technology, they live outside the box without it. I do love hearing their horse drawn carriages going down the street. It reminds me of those old pioneer days when that is what they had to live with.

Tomorrow will be painful having to return to work.  We hear on Facebook all about how people have enjoyed a three day weekend when all we have had is one day off.  Sad for us, but we enjoyed the little taste of not having to work. I am tired now and hope I will be more entertaining later.

For now we just sleep!

An In-Between Time...

You know those day when you wake up and think that this just isn't my life.  Well I definitely didn't wake up thinking that, but I do now. Well let me tell you a bit about yesterday, and then hopefully you will be able to understand the feelings I have today.

We went to work yesterday for a full 8 hour spread at work. Pretty easy day, but it was Saturday, and so hard not to catch myself looking out the window daydreaming about being home. The boss man decided to have some Crawfish shipped in from LA, and everyone was bustling around doing other things for the Cookout.  It was hard to concentrate as it was, but then you have all these people talking about hanging out, and a party.  I was done for! So we left about half an hour early so we could get ready, and comfortable for the cookout, oh and we made Angel food cake with Amish Strawberries a top, and we brought cool whip for those who desired.

We went to the cookout with a few drinks in hand, as instructed, then was offered a million drinks upon arrival.  The most notable was a wonderfully fresh Watermelon Vodka Martini. I didn't partake, though I did drink what I had brought, yes the whole bottle of Bahama Mamma's.  They cooked Crawfish, Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Mushrooms, Sausage, and of course some Drunk Chicken for those of us who couldn't have the Shellfish.  It was delicious, let me tell you!

Upon deciding it was time to leave, our boss man decides to give us one more drink.  So he makes us his special drink, which is basically Double Vodka, Pineapple Juice, Cranberry Juice, on the rocks.  It was good, but a little bit much for me, so I did end up drinking most of it, and pouring a little bit of it out on the grass. Then thanked everyone, and finally made it out of there.  It was already 9:30 PM when we got home so we all just passed out.

When we went to work today I am pretty sure we did it against our will, and then when we did get there we found out that most had listened to their will. We stayed for our time though and worked. Then instead of going to the movies like we planned, because everything that we plan in advance never ends up happening, we just went and got our groceries at Riesbeck's.  I ended up renting The Vow while I was there, so when we came home I hooked my computer up the TV and we all sat own to watch it.

I loved it!  My immediate reaction was amazement that once in a lifetime love could come around twice.  To be able to relive that kind of love all over again.  To fall for the same man under different terms, and circumstances.  Not everyone gets that chance, and just like the girl who the movie is based on who never remembered.  She lived a new love with the same man.  Oh what I would give not to remember sometimes.  Of course to forget the bad time, sometimes the price is all the good times.  I would never want to give up my memories, some I might want to change, but then who would I be?

On the other side, to love someone enough to let them find who thy are again.  To love them enough to let them go, not knowing whether they will ever come back.  I think I would rather live with the few great memories we had together, than to force someone to live a life they might regret. To love is easy, to let go is hard.  I couldn't imagine being able to give that gift, or even have someone to love enough that would stand by, watch, and love you anyway. No matter the decisions you make, even if that does mean letting go, even forever.

Of course the girls didn't end up liking it as much, upon the ending they both got up, and stalked out saying how much the movie sucked.  That's okay though, I mean everyone likes things for different reasons, everyone likes stories for different reasons.  I do tend to love the stories about hope, and I felt that this one gave hope to all those that have forgotten, or made a mistake, or just wish things had turned out differently.

Of course it can't always work out for everyone, but my friend Nancy has a wonderful saying "You Get Out of Life What You Settle For". So if you are unhappy only you can change it. If you felt regret for never telling someone something, maybe the best cure is to tell that person. Not with anger, or spite, but with just your true honest intentions.  I think we are made up of of our life's experiences, and to ignore some experiences or feelings is to ignore a part of yourself.

Well I have dragged on enough, I will talk to you later!

Ohio...

So life, what have you in store for me today?

As I wake up in Ohio these last couple of weeks, and look back, what a rollercoaster we have been on. It has been over 2 weeks since the girls (Brandy and Laura) and I have packed as much as we can into 2 little Mustangs, and drove cross country for this awesome opportunity to work in Ohio. We live 6 miles out of town and have Amish for neighbors. Never would have thought it could end up like this.

I have never eaten so good either. Our landlords are like our own set of Ohio parents. They have given us fresh ground beef from their own cattle, fresh sausage, Amish strawberries, Amish strawberry jam, and of course Amish eggs. The freshness of this food is indescribable. When I write and describe it like that, it's kind of hard to think I came up here for work.

Work is harsh. Not hard or anything, but 7 days a week will probably be the death of me. No, we have even been having fun at work. We work downtown, and have our own office in the old Monroe Bank, and have we heard some creepy stories about this place. Apparently a very wealthy man, Mr Mooney, ran the bank, with his family less than a half mile away in their mansion, but when the depression happened, and his bank went under, Mr Mooney jumped from the 4th story of our very office. When Mr Mooney built the bank building, it is said that he wanted his family at work with him so he built the molding with their portraits in it. So to this day you can look up and see his wife, son, and daughter on the side of the building, which he built in 1903.


So much history in these parts. It's hard to think that God didn't send me here to clear my head, and get things done. He has such a divine way of entering your life, and letting you know what is going to be right for you. O think of not only the good things, but also the trying, the tough, and the down right impossible things he puts in our path. My friend Laura told me this the other day and it has been sticking in my mind "Female... Fe = Iron, and Male = Man... Therefore I must be IronMan!" Oh the things we come up with, hear, or see.

Living with these girls out here really reminds me of camp. Of course camp was always different, because Monterrey is really incomparable. Oh remembering those days and memories is like yesterday. To tell the truth I don't think anyone can understand the beauty and grace the place has without having been there. The friends from all over the world and the companionship you will not find anywhere else!


Well maybe more later. I have enjoyed putting my thoughts down and hope to continue.