Blurp!

Uncle Sam stole my money. Lots of it. So did my dentist, but I feel like he actually earned that money, or most of it. Argh.

I feel like my bank account is steadily growing smaller, and we haven't even left yet. Last weekend, in Chicago, my lovely adorable awesome parents bought us two trail packs and a smaller pack for our trip. I love them. The trail packs are gorgeous, and the smaller one is BRIGHT orange. A few years ago, I would never have picked it, and now I wish I could carry it everywhere!

Tim and I also splurged at REI and bought ourselves waterproof hiking shoes. Mine are hideous. Why buy hideous shoes you ask? Because they were more comfortable than the cute ones. But hobbits really can't be judging MY feet, right? ;)

PS. During my training session this morning, she had me flapping like a bird in the hallway. Nope, not humiliating at all....

Flashback Friday: Callie Cat & Power Thoughts

My father, back in the day, with his Callie cat. It took 24 years, but there is a cat in their household again. Finally! It just should have been when I was living there!

The two things I will miss most, for sure. Family and kitties. Can't they all just come with?!

But the other day in yoga, I received this quote in my power thought card:
I am safe its only change
I cross all bridges with joy and ease.
The "old" unfolds into wonderful new experiences.
My life gets better all the time.

Normally I pay ZERO attention to the mumbo jumbo....but for once, I think I am glad I read it.

Not THAT weird....

Now, I am fully aware that I might have odd flavor profile choices. But to me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a fruit loops side dish to salmon. In fact, I might even pick it! Although, I might prefer a bit of frosted flakes with chocolate milk instead....

I like cereal! And salmon! So sue me!

Blog Hop: Surviving Snow?

This was two month's ago already, but I have since stopped taking pictures because now, I really just want to punch snow and winter in the kidneys. Back then, it was still pretty :)

Enjoy!

Cuckoo for Kiwis!

Well kids. It's my 300th post. And that is something to celebrate! So I will let you all in on my biggest and latest news....

Ready for it?

The picture above isn't just a pretty eye candy for you to wish upon on this wintery weekend eve, but my soon to be new residence! Well, this next one is a little more accurate....
Nonetheless, if you haven't gotten it yet, we are moving to New Zealand! Oh yes. New Zealand the country. We have 12 month work visas, who knows if we will stay the whole time or just a few months. Nothing is really set in stone. We are going to be working, but we have no jobs. When we land in Auckland, we will literally have no jobs, no housing, nothing but our two pieces of luggage and the bags under our eyes from 22 hours of flight.

We are literally insane. But as most of you have seen, we have been trying to figure out what to do with ourselves recently, and we figured. Go big. So we are. REALLY big. And its going to be absolutely amazing.

So that is that. We leave in less than a month and a half (we would have gone sooner, but Tim needs to put in two weeks after our Disney Spring Break). I am sure now that its out in the open. There will barely be a post that doesn't mention it in some way!

Post any questions or ideas or anything. I want to hear it all!

Drunk Sluts and Chocolate Covered Strawberries!

We clean up well don't we? I absolutely love this dress. And its quite an event when I break out the heels! This was taken this past weekend at the Heart Ball. And despite the name, and weekend, it wasn't a Valentine's event. It was a charity fundraiser for a troubled kids school. My mother was on the committee for the fundraiser, and for the first time in four years, we got the invite to join them for fun, food, and fanciness! The auction didn't go so hot, but hey, I got a camera bag full of confiscated desserts! :)
This is dad's face on the upcoming change in our lives...more to come on that one....needless to say, the weirdo keeps busting out the crybaby face.
I dont think I even want to know what they are looking for.....

All History should be like this....

Throwback Thursday: Germans have the best chinese....

I almost forgot!!! But I think I made it in time. When I was going into my freshman year of high school, my parents took us on a three week trip around Germany and Austria. They had lived over there for a few years when my dad worked for IBM and wanted us to see it too. It was the first full family trip overseas, and still one of my favorite trips to this day. The Salzburg Salt Mines are officially a must for anyone that can go. However, to be honest, I have no idea where this picture was taken.

Ultimate Catdown.

I think they really do love each other. Deep down. WAY deep down.

Three Pieces of Me.

Freedom is just a few frostbitten paws away....
Peekaboo. She looks like I caught her doing something naughty....
Nessa just received her one year chip....Tim did not.

Another Step....

Tim has taken it to the next level.
The library.
Watch out world.

Baffling My Brain.

Can I just start this off with a big, fat, I DONT KNOW? Cause its true. We have been pondering it for awhile. Pondering it hard for a couple of months. Pondering it always for several weeks. Where do we go from here? And instead of blathering on and on for pages and pages about all the possibilities. I shall blurb it up. Mainly, because the endlessness of it all is what is mind numbing. Whoever said so many options were a good thing was clearly more decisive than me.

Summer starts.

-Boston
Pros: We can sublet for the summer, find a more permanent place, more permanent jobs, really find out if this is where we want to be, as opposed to just missing the good parts.
Cons: Paying rent. Expensive. Money in general.

-Abroad
Pros: Unique experience. Its frickin abroad. Programs look positive. Gap Year is what we are currently looking at. They help you find a place to live and work for like three months.
Cons: Programs can go awry. No kitties. Hopefully break even money wise. No potential in figuring out what to do in the fall.

-Elsewhere
Pros: Figuring out the fall, new place.
Cons: Where do we go? Where do we work? Where do we live?

-Cedar Falls
Pros: Summer in Cedar Falls is the best. Crowds are gone. Convertible, cheapest living possible, family, job, free time galore.
Cons: Its still Cedar Falls.

ARGH. Really. Making this list did not help me. Everything is just so internalized on the matter. Everything is in flux.

In my head, for a solid 24 hours, has been the song from Buffy (yes, I know, deal) after she kisses Spike and they all harmonize (the irony of "Harmony->Harmonize) does not escape me....."Where do we go, from here?"

I thought picking out my clothes in the morning was hard enough....

Oh Beer....

At least this wasn't at a retirement home?

Naked people beer commercials make me laugh....

20 Years Ago.

I know its not Throwback Thursday, but its been moved up a few days to do the blog hop. This week's theme is, "20 Years Ago..."

I can only assume this was 20 years ago. I look about 4 years old, right? Looks about right. I'm not sure where we are, or even whose cat that is, but I do now how I got the giant scrape on my face. We were visiting relatives and I was playing on a skateboard. Playing and face planting are of course, one in the same. I dont actually remember the event, but i remember sitting on someone's bed afterwards, and getting to sort through shells, picking my favorite one, to make me "feel better." I dont remember it being traumatic at all, although this picture makes me see why everyone else remembers it as traumatic!

But really, I think the most traumatizing thing about this picture, is my mother's outfit! :)