24

I really liked the Golden Brthday year of 23. But it's a lot nicer to say 24. Something about even numbers. I like them.

So 24 things about me:

1. I like to eat bananas with peanut butter from the jar.
2. I only use salon products on my hair. I was a receptionist at a hair salon when I was 16 and I got hooked. Plus, I have great hair.
3. I got Hunter because I wanted a big, male dog. Now, I want a Great Dane. Black female, with droopy ears.
4. I get wistful when I think about Europe, and I've only been to London once. I think it's because all the novels I read are historical fiction and they are set in London, Paris, Rome. Someday, I need to go see all the things I've read about. And maybe move there.
5. I love peacocks. I even taugh JBelle to mimic them.
6. I don't budget on a computer. I write everything down on a piece of paper from a tablet, subtracting each bill from the amount I've been paid. I do this multiple times a pay period.
7. I'm going to start teaching English tomorrow. As a sub for three weeks.
8. I have NO idea how to teach.
9. I'm sort of nervous. It's for upper Middle School and the Freshman High School. Halp!
10. I love trail mix. Especially the kind from Wal-mart, Sam's Choice Mountain Trail. Dear lord, it's wonderful.
11. I fold my underwear into neat little squares. I really don't mind folding and putting away clothes. It's kind of mindless and organized.
12. I've read Dolly Parton and Reba McIntire's biographies.
13. I used to want to be a country singer.
14. I have a good sense of direction when it comes to driving around in new places.
15. I don't function well if I don't shower daily.
16. I tell everyone Hunter is a pure Lab, but I have my doubts. Our vet thinks he might be part Doberman, because of his markings. I think he looks a lot like his dad, but maybe that's just the evil, yellow eyes.
17. I've raised pigs for about half my life. It started for 4-H, then it was just for the bacon. And, man, is that bacon good.
18. I don't like "cheap beer" but I love me some microbrews!
19. I'm about a year yonger than all my OWU friends. Which is nice, as they will always be older than I am and I can never feel "old" around them.
20. I want to make a quilt someday.
21. My first shot when I turned 21 was a Chocolate cake one, and Damian lit the sugar on fire. I wish I would have worked at a bar that made those kind of shots. You know, the good ones.
22. I want my first child to be a girl. And I might want to stop after just one.
23. I like to take the little cap on the faucet off to clean out the debris that collects inside. And I can never get it back on properly.
24. I'm obsessed with the Food Network. I watch it all the time.

The Good News Is, Marriage By Proxy IS Allowed In Colorado.

But not in New Mexico. However, cousin marriage is allowed. Go figure.

Actually, Colorado Marriage Law allows for Marriage by Proxy for those in the military or those who are incarcerated. Surprised? I thought not.

Anyways, the Common Law Marriage paperwork is on my fridge. I don't know what to do with it, so I stuck it there.

Today was rather exciting as I have been up since 5 AM. I went running for two miles with Hunt before getting ready for my first day at work. (It's really dark at 5:20 in the morning, yet I saw about 5 people out walking.) I'm not very good at running, but it's a lot easier to do when it's not 1 PM on a Sunday afternoon and 103 degrees outside. Oh, and post-drinking too. That was just plain stupid. Anyways, after the run, I headed off to start at the Pacific Rim. I didn't actually study like they told me to; I just looked over the paperwork. But I didn't do too badly. They want me to also work over at the restaurant during lunchtime, which I guess I am ok with. She tried to get me to work five days a week, and I told her I didn't want to. I said I'm ok with four, but depending on how I like it, I may go down to three. It's not like a need the money, nor am I bound to make a lot. too bad bars aren't popular during the day. Maybe I should go work at the casino. Ew, no, they are allowed to smoke on the floor and I am not down with that.

After "work" I went over to a few places in town and picked up a few things. Like two pillows, dog toys, spatulas, a rug, and some light up Princess Pens. Then I went over to Hobby Lobby because I love that store and when I left to go to the bookstore, my car died. I knew just what happened, as it's done this before. The cable connecting the battery to the car came loose and it just needed to be tightened. But, I don't know how to do that. Luckily, there is a Checker Auto right next door so I went over there and told the guy what was wrong and he came out and fixed it for me. I would have taken it straight to Brakes Plus, but I don't know where that is, so I drove home, as I would rather be stranded here. I have an appointment to get it fixed and an oil change tomorrow. No more chances! Fix it now! But man, I'm going to hate paying for car repairs now that I am no longer in Colorado.

Sleeping House

Well. I have a guest. She is sleeping on the couch. And CS is napping in his chair. Hunter is on the floor at my feet. I just showered, so I'm not all that interested in lying down and mussing my hair. And since Lace is here, we are going out tonight. I don't feel like showering twice in one afternoon. So I'll just sit right here.

I'm feeling very frustrated with myself right now. I feel so uncomfortable with myself and the weight I put on. It's probably not a lot, as I can still put on my jeans I wore constantly, but it's enough that I can tell it's more than just a few pounds. It's enough that I can see it when I look at the pictures we took last night. It just happened, all of the sudden. It makes no sense as I have been working out everyday, a lot harder than I have been for the past few months. You would think that the amount of exercise I get would make up for the extra food intake. I suppose that's it, I've been home and constantly snacking for two weeks. It just doesn't feel like that.

So I'm putting the smack down on snacking. It's not really a diet, as I don't like that word. It more like I will actively avoid food and possibly start running in the evenings.

Fortunately, I got a job so I will be getting out of the house and away from the snacks.

And what's my job? I'm going to go work at the "Starbucks" here in town. I start on Tuesday.

Just A Common Thing

Before I decided to come to New Mexico with CS, I had a very had time with the idea that I was losing my health insurance. I've never been without it, except for two months when I first started working after graduation. When CS told me about coming down here, he told me that I wouldn't have to worry about health insurance once I was here because I would be able to get on his plan.

Well, now that I'm down here and coming close to the cut-off for pre-existing conditions (maybe past that limit already, actually) I remembered to remind him I wanted on his insurance. Two days ago, he told me he went into the office and was told it would be easy to add me.

Today he brought home the forms.

CS: You may want to read these. You might not want to do it.
Me: Um, ok. (scans a form)
CS: Look at the other one.
Me: Hmm? (Am distracted. Easily.)
CS: Look at the one on the table.
Me: What? (Also, can't pay attention to spoken words.)
CS: This one!

Oh. The one with QUESTIONNAIRE FOR COMMON LAW MARRIAGE splayed across the top of the page?

Oh. That one. Turns out I need to have a common law marriage with him in order to be able to get benefits. Of course! After I read the form and screeched out an "Oh my god", CS got down on one knee and asked me if I'd be his Common Law wife. (In JEST, people.) I suppose that I should have seen something like this occurring. What with all the trouble people across our nation have with health insurance. No way some construction company is going to allow the unwed participate in their plan. Must have a ring! Or at least some sort of declaration that we will maybe someday have a real wedding, but if not at least he can claim me on his taxes!

My mom had me look up Common Law Marriages in New Mexico before I came down here. NM does not have a common law marriage law, but Colorado does. And since we are both still legal residents of that state, I don't think I can claim to be married here but not in Colorado.

So I guess I have to decide if I want to be "married" in order to have health insurance. I certainly couldn't have predicted that two months ago!

Today I:

Walked 2.5 miles.
Did a hundred sit ups and 20 minutes of Yoga poses I learned in DANC115.
Had tea and granola while reading my blogroll.
Started laundry.
Unloaded the dishwasher.
Showered, dressed, did my hair.
Interviewed at the Hobbs Public Library.
Drove to the job site to bring CS lunch.
Went to Hobby Lobby, the Post Office, Cotton Castle.
Went to see Tracy for a bit.
Swept and mopped the kitchen.
Sprinkled smell good dust on the carpets and vaccumed.
Started dinner.
Did the dishes.

And I still have a list of things to do tomorrow.

My Bangin' Suit

Me: Jayden, what are you wearing?
Jayden: My bangin' suit.
Me: And did you put sunscreen on?
Jayden: Yeah, I put sunscream on.

She would also like a Princess Shooting Gun. Thank goodness her birthday is eleven months away! I don't know if we could find a shooting gun in a Disney princess theme. I should google that.

Speaking of banging suits, I'm having issues with my body. Last night at Wal-Mart, I weighed myself on a scale in the bathroom aisle. And it read: 140. Where I yelled "Ew" and pulled another one off the shelf. 140. I am not happy with this weight. In my body's defense, I did spend about two months with limited exercise and a very bad diet. Only in the past two weeks have I settled into a routine that involves walking 2.5 miles a day and healthy eating. And this is also the "rebound" weight from having my tonsils out. I didn't want to stay at the 120 I was three weeks post surgery, but I didn't want to put on 15 pounds. Although, I did weigh myself at night, rather than in the morning, so I bet at least 5 pounds could be taken off for that. Right?

In any case, my bangin' suit needs some hard work out time. And a yoga DVD.

Ya'll Are Just Haters.

I'm at the only coffee place in town that serves Starbucks. Hobbs doesn't have an actual Starbucks establishment; the Pacific Rim just serves as an outlet for Starbucks' business. Much like the St. Cloud Hotel in Canon. I'm actually at a coffee bar, and I can see about 50 bottles of Yellow Tail Chardonnay behind the counter.

I started coming here for the wireless as well as the Starbucks. I adore Starbucks coffee. It is the only coffee I can drink with no cream, just some sugar. And I prefer it to be a dark roast. Apparently, that's the first step in admitting I have a "coffee problem." Ok, ok, I have a problem. I love coffee. And I've been without for days. But I do have English Breakfast Tea at home, so I've been handling the withdrawals well.

Last night we ventured out to the casino/race track for the evening with a few people. The casino has an All You Can Eat Seafood Buffet, which really translates to All You Can Eat Snow Crab Legs and Maybe Some Cocktail Shrimp. I truly think buffets are the bane of society and what's wrong with America. Then I ate about 14 crabs. I suppose that I would place fast food on a lower level of evil than buffets as buffets usually have actual vegetables included, but still. It's wasteful and unnecessary. Kind of like dining halls at college!

I have an interview for the library on Monday. I suppose it's slightly wretched of me to go into an interview when I haven't told them that I am not able to work the hours they have posted on the position. But it's also a library, and from what I've seen, they are usually flexible with schedules. I'm not sure how that works if your reason for not being able to work is because you want to actually see your live in boyfriend sometime and also you don't actually need money, you just need a hobby.

Hi, I'm a 24 year old Homemaker!

Oh, wait. I'm only 23. But just for another 2 weeks.

I did find out that we are coming back to Colorado for Labor Day. I have no idea of that's what CS had in mind when he told me they were off for Labor day, but my immediate response was "Can we go home?" Perhaps you can't say no to that kind of thing. Which thank god, because I really want to talk to JBelle. Today on the phone she told me she was going to eat Superman Yogurt and I thought she said "some yogurt" so I asked what kind of yogurt. And she repeated it slowly for me, but in a tone of exasperation. Like "S-u-p-e-r-m-a-n Yogurt, Jessi. Are you not being a good listener right now?" Sometimes the enormity of what I've done hits me, and I realize that though I didn't move to Ohio I did move far enough away that I am not a presence in her life anymore. And that I might not be for years. Some days, that's really hard to face.

Making A Habit.

Now that I am settled (for now, I still have TONS of things on my "Need this" list) into our house, I am trying to get my life back to normal. Since I don't have a job yet, I have an entire day to fill. Luckily, I have lots of things that I want to do. I've started getting up at 6:30 in the morning and taking Hunter for a walk. The first few days I think we only went about a half mile but after some trial and error we are up to over a mile a day now. The only downside to walking is that I live a neighborhood that is surrounded by major roadways in Hobbs. So everywhere I walk, there are cars driving by. And I am used to nice quiet walks in the country where no one drives by and no one else is around. Although, the city people confine their dogs better and I don't get chased! After our walk, I feed Hunt and put him outside while I watch Good Morning America and do a hundred sit-ups followed by some good yoga poses. After that, I take time for cleaning, a shower, breakfast, and run my errands before going out to the job site on occasion. In the afternoons, I usually end up hanging out with Tracy until the boys get back around 5.

I am going to look for a job soon because I know that my days aren't always going to be entertaining to me and I would like to get out there and meet people. The library here is looking for a part timer, but the hours they want me to work are 4-8 and I would never see Chris. Which was the whole reason I came here, so that wouldn't work out. I applied anyways, and if they decide to give me an interview I can see if they are able to adjust my schedule should I work there.

I pulled out my bag of yarn yesterday and I started a project over again (for the 3rd time!) but I think this time I am happy with the pattern. I was disappointed because I thought I had two skeins of this bright, grass green yarn and I only bought one. Not sure what I can do with just one, but we'll see.

I'm struggling with morning TV though because I am still boycotting the Today show after I decided that they were in the wrong for bringing people on the show with no knowledge of the fact that they were about to be ambushed on live TV. I don't really like Good Morning America, and I really Hate Regis and Kelly. The Food Network isn't showing the "good shows" at 8 AM, and I want to watch something educational this early in the morning. I pick trash TV for later in the day. Right after I watch Ellen, actually.

Ok. I'm Back.

I have been cleaning. My new townhouse isn't actually dirty, surprisingly it's rather clean. But I washed the walls anyway. Seriously, I washed the walls. And some of the paint came off onto my rag which is probably a bad sign. But we are here now, all moved in and somewhat settled. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have my own place now.

It was somewhat a process to actually get to here. LPR (CS's company) pays him each week for housing, which when you have a place to live is an insane amount. But when you are living in a hotel while looking for a place, the money they give them each week goes away fast. So it's hard to save up for a deposit when you are giving most of your money to a stupid hotel chain. Fortunately, we were able to go stay with some friends of CS's after we found this place. I say fortunately because it allowed us to save money for the deposit and the first month's rent, but it was also the hardest week I've been through since I got here. I say this a lot, and when I say it, it's said rather jokingly but I'm realizing that I'm semi-serious when I say I don't like kids. I love, love, love JBelle more than words can say. I love being around her, I love playing with her, and doing whatever she wants. It's completely unconditional love. That is what I have for her. Other kids? Um, not so much. CS's friends that we stayed with have three kids, 10, 9, and 2. And they are fun, sweet kids. But they are still kids and they are often trying to be around. It was hard. I felt very confined. Not only did I stay at the house with Tracy and the kids all day long, when Mike and CS got back from work we'd hang out all evening. I had nothing to do all day but wait for CS to get home. I think I retreated into myself for part of that week because if I allowed myself to dwell on what I was doing I would have broken down and cried everyday. But I knew that I needed to wait until we got our own place.

And so far, so good. I'm still not finished with putting this place together. But it's ok. I don't need to have every single rug, dish, lamp, and picture that I've coveted for the past two years when I fantasized about my "apartment". I can wait for another paycheck and the weekend to go to Target rather than settling for something from Wal-Mart. I have months ahead of me here, and then another town after that. There is no rush. And if CS has his way, I won't be taking half the things I "NEED" here because we can just buy new ones. I beg to differ. There is no way I'm giving up some of the things I want once I get them, NO WAY DUDE!

So, I'm here in my two-bedroom townhouse, with ugly brown carpet and a concrete backyard. But I have my pretty curtains in the window and wireless Internet on my laptop while I sit on my couch and watch TV. It's not home yet, but I don't want to walk away.

I do plan on finding a job of some sort while I'm here. I've kept myself busy this past week with cleaning and organizing, along with random errands I needed to do. I know eventually I will not need to do as much with the apartment and I will find myself with a lot of time on my hands but I am confident I could also entertain myself. Although it would be easier if I had friends. And one best makes friends in a new town by working around people. I do want to have time to work on my writing, to be crafty, learn new things. This is such a new beginning, one I've never experienced and I want to see what I can make of it.

Am Sorry. Have No Internet. Yet!

I finally have a place to live. And I will be getting internet there this afternoon between one and four.

I'll tell you all about it.