Hey everyone!
Kev and I have bought a new pup! She's a chihuahua (of course) and her name is Paloma, which means dove in spanish, or more commonly heard of as my favorite drink from Mexico! Here's the website with some pictures and a video! Enjoy!
Love you guys!
Photos at http://web.me.com/tearly/chihuahua/index.html.
I don’t have anything too exciting to say but I thought I would say hello and give you an update too! I heard Hotel California on the radio last night on my way home, thought of you all and got really nostalgic. I really, really miss you all. I want to visit Columbus too. Maria R- keep us updated because I plan on being there when you come but if anyone wants to give me another excuse to visit, I’ll take it!
So still no job for me yet (you can’t imagine how tired I am of saying that). I have added the YET at the end, though. According to someone I talked to I need to start adding that word, so there it is. Anyway, I have three volunteer “jobs” at this point so I am keeping somewhat busy… but just not getting paid. That is fine for now because I am learning and hopefully contributing and on top of that I really love all the people I am getting to know at all three places. The first place is the American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop. It’s an “upscale” resale shop where all of the profits from selling donations of gently used women’s clothing, accessories, furniture and household items go to the ACS. The store has one paid manager, who I love, but is otherwise run by a volunteer steering committee (of which I am now a part of) and volunteer store workers.I am working on getting them more donations!
I am also the Fundraising Chair of the Anderson Township Relay For Life. That means I am on the planning committee and in charge of doing outside fundraisers prior to Relay to raise even more money. I convinced the Feckers to let us do a fundraiser with the Anderson Community Band (haha) and I’m working on more. I’m also going to have a team at Relay with some of my High School friends who are here. They all got so excited about what I was doing they offered to be my “committee” and help me out, which I thought was really sweet.
The last place is the one I think I’m most excited about. I am helping plan a fundraiser for this summer for an organization called Most Valuable Kids. They take people’s unused tickets to sporting events, cultural events, etc. around Cincinnati and then distribute the tickets to underserved kids in the area. For the last 5 years one woman has been running the entire foundation and since they are growing she needs help. Therefore they are having a fundraiser this summer more or less to pay this new hire’s salary. Potentially this could be me, but I hope I have a job before the end of the summer! In the meantime I’m trying to help out as much as I can and not screw up, just in case.
It’s neat to be involved with a variety of different not-for profits and get a little taste of how each is run. One needs clothes, one needs money and one needs tickets, which is interesting to me. Even though I’m involved with 3 organizations it’s not like I am working anywhere close to full time (which may change as things pick up) but it’s still great experience (and a lot of meetings to go to).
I’m still applying for jobs and taking advice from anyone who will give it to me. I figure that maybe in the grand scheme of things it’s best that I don’t make money so I need to be home anyway. It’s definitely difficult when so many people seem to be doing “big girl” things as Erin said (like Brie bought a condo today!) but I figure my (and our, for that matter) times will come soon enough.
I leave for San Francisco next Thursday and I am so excited. Plus they were in San Francisco last night on the Bachelor which got me even more excited! John also just found out that he has to be in Harrisburg, PA the following week and his boss told him he should stop in Cincinnati for the weekend. So I get to see him a week later, too! He gets to see his family, too, which is nice because we weren’t really sure the next time he would be home- Lauren’s wedding maybe. So, this was a nice surprise. I really love when he’s anywhere on the East Coast, too, because we are in the same time zone and that is so much more convenient.
I hope you all are doing well. Miss you 5, our lovely house and talking about nothing and everything.
Amy
P.S. If anyone hasn’t seen The Blind Side you totally should. My mom, sister and I saw it this weekend and it was really great. Sandra Bullock is sooo impressive (apparently people agree since she was nominated for an Oscar for it!). Boys will like it too!
I have been thinking about you all so much lately, and since it is rather overwhelming to my to my telephone-phobic self to make 5 phone calls at once, I figured I would add to the blog : )
I hope everyone is enjoying their jobs/ lives/ school. Although there isn't really too much going on in my life right now, I never really know where to start when writing one of these blogs. It's kind of intimidating actually because there is so much that I want to say, yet there isn't really too much to say...I just wish we could have a big pow-wow in my room like good old times. Anyway, I am currently working at a Staffing Agency in Pittsburgh (in addition to Quaker Steak) and am really loving it. I am a little stressed, just because I essentially work everyday of the week (and sometimes both jobs on one day), BUT it is probably for the best because I am definitely staying busy. The people at the Agency are so great...kind, warm, welcoming, and I feel like I am part of a family. I really enjoy every single person there, and it's a professional business environment which makes me feel like a have a semi-big girl job. At least it is a step in the right direction haha. I have been continuing to apply for real "big girl jobs" but am struggling about where I really want to be right now. I guess I will just have to see what happens.
Update me/ the rest of us on your lives!!! I want to hear what's going on!
Miss you all bunches!
Erin
P.S. I would love to schedule another trip to C-bus sometime within the next few months. Maria R...do you have any plans to visit? Let me know!
I hope you all had very merry Christmases and happy New Years! I just got back from California on Monday. The Rose Bowl was really fun and I know this may be a sin, but I almost thought the parade was better. It was so impressive! I think the boys would murder me if they heard me say that. Oh man, were they in heaven. At times I wanted to put my head through a wall because of the horrible, never-ending jokes that they all thought were hilarious but other than that, it was honestly really nice to spend time with all of them. It was also so nice to be with John again after I just saw him for Christmas! We went to the Getty Art Museum before my dad left and on my birthday we went to Catalina Island. Both places were really gorgeous. It wasn't too awkward either spending my birthday with just John and Mr. Fecker. I put my pictures on Picasa again in case anyone is interested J
And, since John gave me the best Christmas gift ever, I get to see him again soon! He got me a trip to San Francisco over President’s Day weekend in February, which also happens to be Valentines Day weekend, too!! I was completely floored. He said he was excited to give me this present but that normally doesn’t mean anything. He booked my plane tickets and a really cool historic hotel in the city. I was thinking, who are you and what have you done with my boyfriend?! He can stay though. I’m so pumped. We are going to go up to Napa for a day too!I told him I don’t need presents ever again. In my head I was thinking a ring in the semi-near future might be nice but I can wait haha. Just kidding, we still have a lot more time before that happens- don’t get all excited.
Still trying to figure out the rest of my life and it’s still not going as well as I would like haha. I’ll let you know though! I'm working on it.
This Christmas came and went at an unprecedented rate. It was a lovely Christmas though. I had all of last week off and I spent my time with my family and Alex's (Cleveland & Cincinnati).
I am really tired of talking about the wedding though. In the midst of all of the visiting and eating, I managed to book a florist, photographer, cakemaker, dj and bought a dress (and I have the church, the reception site and the invitations). The dress happened to be the first one I tried on! My mom was tearing up. I was worried I wouldn't find anything I liked at all, but once I started trying them on I loved them all. There was magical lighting in there I think! Everything has been coming together in a way that makes me feel like it's all really meant to be. I feel better now that only the little details are left. All that you girls need to know is that the date is set for October 2, 2010! Start asking off work! jk!
By the way, CONGRATULATIONS MARIA! That is such exciting news. You deserve it and I am so proud of you. However, I am disappoinetd that you and Kev won't be making the pilgrimage to our fine state. By the way-that german bar you were describing on Erin's facebook wall sounded like the perfect place to spend a cold night.
Amy---have you started packing for LA yet? I am jealous that you get to leave this weather behind. I cannot wait to hear the stories about Mr. Fecker. Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY (a smidge early!). Do you have any birthday plans with John?
MJ-hope you're fully recovered from your surgery. I am glad to hear that everything went okay! By the way, you are santa's naughty helper! I got your text the minute I was going in to meet with the photographer and it freaked me out so much because I couldn't call you! When are you rolling back in town? Are you moving the rest of your stuff to Eric's? Let me know if you need any help!
Erin-any luck with the new year's plans and your work? I am sure you will have a real fire there--please roast a marshmellow for me!
LC-SOOOOOOOO jealous you had a real break! I am sure it was a much needed a break. I don't remember if you were off for a week or if it was two? You are such an inspiration!
Also, thank you girls for all of the lovely mail I have received lately! I LOVE getting mail! Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to each of you. What are everyone's New Years plans? I will be in gloomy Cleveland once again...
Just wanted to let everyone know on Wednesday I got offered the position of Supervisor to Polly's Cottage! It was a great early Christmas present to me and Kev! So far as supervisor I have been dealing with non-stop crisis in my unit. I was at work last night from 9am to almost 2am! I've been getting a little beat up at work, but you guys know me, I love battle scars.
But as for the visit in January, my time off has been denied because of all the training I'm going to have to do. Now I get Saturday nights, Sunday's and Mondays off... so Kev and I are looking for plane tickets to at least get out there for a short weekend or something. I dunno, we've been brainstorming for a way to get out to Columbus ASAP. I'll keep everyone updated, I know everyone's busy so I'm going to talk to my boss today about when I should be able to take some time off. I love you guys, and I am sorry that the visit fell through, I can't wait to see everyone soon.
How is everyone doing? Wedding plans? Subleasing? Jobs? Trips out west? I want to hear it all.
Hope everyone has an extremely Merry Christmas and has a great time with your families!
